We are working hand in hand with local communities and civil society organizations to stop the expansion of fossil fuels and to help speed the transition to sustainable energy.
OCI’s Asia Team is working to stop the buildout of new gas infrastructure in Asia and globally, which would harm communities and ecosystems, undermine energy security and worsen the climate crisis.
The climate crisis requires shifting from fossil fuels to renewable-based energy systems. Yet, the fossil fuel industry and its political allies are working to prolong their reign under the guise of climate action. Working with NGO partners and frontline communities, Our team at OCI Asia is committed to halting the expansion of new fossil infrastructure.
The Japanese government is our primary target as the world’s largest provider of international public finance for gas and LNG terminals. Japan’s “Green Transformation” strategy would prolong the fossil fuel era. Japan is derailing the energy transition by financing new gas and LNG infrastructure, by pressuring governments across Asia, the US, Australia and globally to develop new fossil infrastructure and by driving the false narrative that Asia’s energy transition requires the continued use of coal and gas.
Communities across Asia and globally are rejecting Japan’s dangerous distractions, . We are working together to stop specific LNG and fossil fuel projects in the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the US, highlighting the damage inflicted on communities and the environment by Japan. Working closely with partners like Fossil Free Japan, Asia Gas Network, and more, we are focused on stopping Japanese finance for gas and other fossil fuel-based projects.
Japan’s support for fossil fuels is a little known secret. Japan, the often-overlooked fifth largest climate culprit, is under increasing scrutiny both internationally and in the media. We are working with partners to expose and intensify the reputational risk for Japan, major polluting corporations like JERA and Mitsubishi and private financiers. We’re actively involved in targeting these actors at key moments like the G7, COP, and corporate AGMs.
One of world’s top financiers of fossil fuels, Japan perennially ranks as one of the world’s top financiers of fossil fuels. Japan spent at least USD $6.9 billion on gas, coal and oil on average each year from 2020-2022.
Japan is the world’s largest provider of international public finance for gas, providing USD $4.3 billion annually on average from 2020 to 2022.
Japan is also the world’s largest provider of international public finance for LNG export capacity. To date, Japan provided 50% of global international public finance, or $39.7 billion, for LNG export capacity projects built from 2012 to 2022 and projects under construction or expected to be built by 2026.
Japan is one of the biggest climate villains you hardly ever hear about. Japan is driving the expansion of fossil fuels across Asia and globally and is derailing the transition to renewable energy – all for corporate profit. This is harming communities and ecosystems, undermining energy security and worsening the climate crisis. Despite its G7 commitment to end public finance for fossil fuels, the Japanese government approved financing for three fossil fuel projects in 2023, with another eight in its funding pipeline.
Japan is derailing the global energy transition with its fossil-based technologies including fossil gas, LNG, ammonia and hydrogen co-firing and CCS. Japan is using its Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC) initiative to promote these fossil-based technologies under the guise of decarbonization and international cooperation.
The surest path to ensuring energy and economic security in Asia is the rapid, just development of renewable energy. Wealthy governments, like Japan, have an opportunity and obligation to help increase the pace and scale of renewables buildout particularly in Asia. Asia’s demand for gas is expected to plateau by 2030 as the region accelerates its transition to renewable energy, and then fall 40.4% by 2050. And coal use is expected to decline.
Japan is promoting a dirty energy strategy across Asia that prioritizes fossil fuel production, putting corporate profits ahead of the people and the planet. This series of leaflets provides a wider audience with easy-to-understand information about Japan and its dangerous distractions.
Despite the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels, Japan is driving the expansion of liquified gas (LNG) and other fossil-based technologies like ammonia co-firing, worsening the climate crisis and harming communities and ecosystems.
Gas infrastructure locks in decades of new carbon emissions and slows the transition to clean energy. This fact sheet provides insights into the latest research on achieving fossil-free electricity.
Japan has spent the last year working to derail the energy transition in Asia at every possible turn. Most recently, on December 16-18, Japan organized more high-level meetings with Asia Pacific leaders to push its dangerous distractions.
Take action now and send an email to Japanese Prime Minister Kishida urging him to stop derailing the energy transition in Asia.
