JCLP releases a policy statement for the G7 Sapporo Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment and the Hiroshima Summit
JCLP calls for the Japanese government’s ambitious climate commitments and leadership as the G7 Presidency
Tokyo, Japan, March 28, 2023 – Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnerships (JCLP), a coalition of 230 companies committed to climate action, has released “Policy Statement for the G7 Sapporo Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment and the Hiroshima Summit”.
This year’s G7 Ministers’ Meeting and Summit presents an opportunity for Japan to demonstrate its leadership in addressing climate change and energy crises, which will not only increase its presence in the international community but also create business and investment opportunities. To seize this opportunity, JCLP calls on the Japanese government to commit to the following:
1. Decarbonization of the power sector by 2035
G7 countries other than Japan have set the goal of decarbonizing the power sector by 2035, or have a prospect of achieving it. Moreover, the escalating urgency among private sector entities to decarbonize their operations and supply chains underscores the imperative for power sector decarbonization as a pressing priority from a competitiveness standpoint.
2. Give top priority to the swift expansion of renewable energy, while progressively diminishing reliance on fossil fuels
The rapid expansion of renewable energy is not only essential for achieving the 1.5°C target but also serves as a key means to reduce dependence on fossil fuels that is posing a threat to energy security. Furthermore, renewable energy is also the preferred choice for demand-side companies.
3. Early phase-out of unabated coal-fired power generation
In order to achieve the goal of decarbonizing the power sector by 2035 and aligning with the 1.5°C target, it is imperative that coal-fired power generation that does not meet these standards be phased out without delay.
4. Introduction of carbon pricing to facilitate rapid expansion of cost-effective decarbonization technologies
An effective carbon pricing mechanism that promotes the rapid expansion of cost-efficient decarbonization technologies. Mechanisms that are voluntary and involve a restricted number of participants, as well as carbon prices that fail to at meet a specific threshold, may prove inadequate.
5. 100% ZEVs in new passenger car sales by 2035, with an ambitious target for heavy-duty vehicles
The electric vehicle conversion target set by the Japanese government falls short of aligning with both science-based 1.5°C pathways and international trends. A target that focuses exclusively on ZEVs without any inclusion of hybrids, and an ambitious target for the sales ratios of new heavy-duty vehicles (weighing 8 tons or more) need to be established.
Download the full statement here.
Download the press release here.