Key partners of the EU-Japan Green Alliance, including representatives from the European Commission, Japanese ministries, and key stakeholders, were convened to share insights and strategies for achieving ambitious  climate targets. The event  offered a platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration on green transition between the EU and Japan.

Welcoming the participants, Mr. Thomas Gnocchi, Deputy Head of Delegation of the EU to Japan emphasised the importance of the Green Alliance stating: “The climate crisis is intensifying even faster than expected. The only way to keep our planet safe is to drastically reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The next critical step is to set our ambition and direction of travel for the post-2030 period." "I strongly believe that the Alliance remains even more relevant on the way ahead, given the challenges and priorities the EU and Japan share to ensure industry competitiveness, job creation and fair distribution in a challenging geopolitical context and green and climate-neutral transition.“  In response, Mr. Hiroki Matsui, Director, Climate Change Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, welcomed the Alliance’s development and said, “The EU and Japan together account for about 10% of the world's energy-derived CO2 emissions, so it is of great significance that both sides are taking ambitious measures to combat climate change and lead global climate action.”

Visiting Tokyo to discuss climate policy alignment with Japanese government counterparts, Ms. Maja-Alexandra Dittel, Member of the Task Force for International Carbon Pricing and Markets Diplomacy, Director-General Climate Action (DG CLIMA) from the European Commission presented the EU’s progress on the 2030 climate objectives and preparation for the post-2030 NDC. Ms. Dittel explained that the European Commission recommended setting an EU 2040 climate target of a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels, and that once agreed on among Member States, this target will be the basis for the EU’s next NDC. She added that the EU would focus efforts post-2030 on full decarbonisation of the energy sector, strengthening industrial competitiveness, especially in clean tech sectors, advancing carbon capture and storage technologies targeted towards hard-to-abate sectors, and addressing social impacts from the transition to carbon neutrality so that no one is left behind. In return, key officials from Japan’s Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) briefed the audience about Japan’s progress towards the 2030 target (46% reduction by FY 2030 compared to FY2013) and the development of its GX (green transformation) Policy

The following panel discussion was attended by Germany and Japanese experts from diverse stakeholder groups, who gave their perspective to raising ambitions to realising the 1.5°C target as defined by the Paris Agreement. Mr. Peter Löffelhardt, Head of Economic and Scientific Affairs Department, German Embassy in Tokyo presented Germany’s efforts towards carbon neutrality and stated: “Energy transition in Germany has been all beneficial for reducing CO₂ emissions, ensuring energy security and achieving economic prosperity”.  Mr. Nobuo Tanaka, Chair, the Steering Committee of Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF) and Executive Director Emeritus, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said that bold and clear national targets would be necessary for Japanese industry to move and make faster progress for decarbonisation. Professor Yukari Takamura from the University of Tokyo Institute for Future Initiatives briefed the audience about the progress of the revision of Japan’s Strategic Energy Plan and the development of the next NDC, adding that it is time for us to reconsider whether today’s energy system, more than 70% of which still relies on imported fossil fuels, is sustainable for the future. As a leading expert working for decades in climate change advocacy, Ms. Kimiko Hirata, Executive Director, Climate Integrate, said, “Japan, which has technology, finance and human resources, should take on the role of leading the world. I am concerned that coal-fired power generation still represents more than 30% of Japan’s total electricity generation and the discussions on its phase-out have not even begun.” Representing Japanese business community, Mr. Yusaku Uchida, Senior General Manager, Sustainability Management Division, Suntory Holdings Limited, said: “Business actions have to be planned well in advance to generate results in the long term. It is important for us to see clear goals that are being sought globally and to plan and carry out initiatives according to them. ” As the voice from youth, Ms. Suzuka Nakamura, Campaigner, Japan Youth Conference, said, “To achieve 1.5 °C target, the world needs to accelerate the action. We are too young to stand for election and I would like to see young people given a place at the decision-making table.”

Beyond different stances, the panelists shared the urgency of tackling climate change and the need for the governments to set and implement ambitious next NDCs as well as the value of increasing EU-Japan collaboration on accelerating the development and deployment of climate solutions.

Editor’s Note:

The EU-Japan Green Alliance was launched at the 27th EU-Japan Summit held on 27 May 2021. At the Summit, both leaders recognised that climate change, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss are interconnected and existential threats to humanity that require urgent, decisive and coordinated global action.  The European Commission and the Government of Japan are determined to move towards climate neutral and resilient, biodiversity-friendly, circular and resource efficient economies, and to promote implementation of the Paris Agreement worldwide. Cooperation between the EU and Japan based on the Alliance has taken place since 2021 in several areas of green transition including: energy transition, environmental protection, business and trade cooperation, research and development, sustainable finance, transition support for third countries, global integrity and stability of climate action, cooperation on climate strategies and modelling, decarbonisation at local/urban level, and civil society and citizens’ action and empowerment.

The EU-Japan Green Alliance Facility was established by the EU in June 2024 to support the development and implementation of various Alliance activities. The Facility is managed by a consortium of adelphi (Germany), AETS (France) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (Japan) and the project team is led by Tomoo Machiba (Zeroboard Research Institute).