Challenges for Japan's coal policy / Revitalizing rural areas through sustainable tourism

Welcome! I am Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 104 of the "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter??, which curates Japan-related climate news content every week since spring 2022, with over 2,290 subscribers. You can subscribe by clicking on the Linkedin page or the substack link.

I hope you find the articles below beneficial for reading (or skimming)!

*note: "Climate Curation" newsletter in ????Japanese (every Saturday) is available on Linkedin/note/theLetter. It curates Japan and global climate-tech trends. I hope you may like it.

[????????Japan Climate News Headlines]

【1】G7 offers leeway to Germany, Japan in deal to quit coal by 2035 [5/1 Reuters]

• The G7 energy ministers agreed to phase out coal power by 2035, with flexibility for Germany and Japan. They also acknowledged the importance of reducing Russian energy revenues to support Ukraine but did not reach a consensus on sanctions for Russian LNG imports.

【2】The emissions and trade flows impact of the G7 coal pledge [4/30 Reuters]

• The G7's pledge to end coal use in power generation within a decade may have a limited impact on global emissions, as the group accounted for only 11% of coal-fired electricity in 2023. However, Japan's compliance could significantly alter global coal trade flows.

【3】Opinion| The Dog Ate Japan’s Plan to Phase Out Coal Power - Tokyo stands alone in the G7. Far from shutting down polluting fuel plants, it’s opening them. [5/2 Bloomberg ??GIFT URL]

• Rich countries are rapidly turning away from coal, with consumption dropping significantly in the UK, US, and EU.
• Japan is an exception, still opening new coal plants and planning for coal to account for 19% of its power generation in 2030.
• Japan's dependence on imported fossil fuels poses economic and security risks, and its coal commitment is damaging the climate.

【4】Hot weather seen across Japan [5/4 NHK World]

• Japan's spring holiday festivities were met with sweltering heat as temperatures soared to 25°C or more in many areas. Celebrations like Children's Day events in Kochi Prefecture continued despite the hot weather. Officials caution the public about heatstroke risks as temperatures rise further.

【5】Malaysia and Japan test recycling dead palm trees into biofuel - Palm oil industry looks to lessen carbon footprint tied to decaying trunks [5/2 Nikkei Asia]

• A joint Japanese-Malaysian research project aims to recycle felled palm trees into biomass for renewable energy. The experimental plant in Kluang, Malaysia, processes palm trunks into fuel pellets, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and offering a sustainable alternative to decomposition.

【6】Boom in data centers challenges clean power goals in Asia - Electricity demand expected to rise as generative AI takes off [5/4 Nikkei Asia]

• Global power demand from data centers is expected to double by 2026, posing challenges for Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia in meeting their clean energy goals.
• Japan aims to update its basic energy policy by March 2025, targeting a reduction in fossil fuel reliance to 41% and an increase in renewable energy to at least 36% by 2030.
• South Korea faces similar challenges, with the number of data centers expected to increase fivefold by 2029, while demand is also growing across Asia, including Singapore, Tokyo, Mumbai, Sydney, and Malaysia.

【7】Irrigation system led by slain Japanese doctor completed in Afghanistan [5/6 NHK World]

A Japanese NGO has completed a new irrigation canal in Afghanistan, continuing the humanitarian work started by Dr. Nakamura Tetsu, who was killed there in 2019. The canal is expected to help 14,000 residents and improve farming in Nangarhar province, which has suffered from drought and food shortages.

【8】As visitors surge, Japan seeks ways to make tourism eco-friendly [5/5 The Japan Times]

• As Japan's tourist destinations grapple with the resurgence of environmental issues due to the rapid increase in visitors, the online travel information platform "Sustabi" advocates for eco-friendly travel that respects local communities. Meanwhile, Ogawa, Saitama Prefecture, is garnering attention as a sustainable tourism model that leverages organic agriculture and traditional industries. Under the slogan "grow local, eat local, experience local," various small-scale businesses in Ogawa collaborate to establish a unique tourism style. With the Japanese government aiming to attract 60 million foreign visitors by 2030, sustainable tourism initiatives like those in Ogawa are expected to spread nationwide.

【9】How a Japanese scientist is turning the climate crisis into music [5/7 The Japan Times]

• Hiroto Nagai, a geoenvironmental scientist and composer in Tokyo, created a musical composition titled "String Quartet No. 1 'Polar Energy Budget'" using climate data from the past 30 years.
• Nagai's composition uses "musification" to rearrange and combine climate data with rhythms and notes to evoke an emotional response and convey the complex story of climate change.
• The composition, performed live by the PRT Quartet in Tokyo, intrigued the audience and sparked interest in environmental issues, demonstrating the potential of using music to communicate climate change.

【10】Event Info 5/15 - 16 Tokyo | SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 Global Startup Program | Asia’s largest global innovation conference

I plan to participate in it, so please let me know if you will be there????

• The SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 Global Startup Program, Asia's largest global innovation conference, will take place on May 15th and 16th in Tokyo, Japan. This event brings together entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, and innovators worldwide to showcase the latest technological advancements and foster collaboration within the startup ecosystem.

Here are the sessions I plan to participate in: *time-table

• 5/15 11:00-11:45 [Stage D] - How startups co-create value and scale up together with large corporates in the ClimateTech field
• 5/15 13:00-16:30 [Stage D] - SusHi Tech Challenge 2024 Semi-Final
• 5/15 14:00-14:45 [Stage B] - Transformative Sustainability Finance: ESG, SDGs, Climate Finance and Beyond
• 5/15 15:00-15:45 [Stage C] - Unraveling the future of DeepTech: A challenge from Japan to the world
• 5/16 10:00-10:50 [Stage A] - The State of Carbon Removal in 2024:Emerging Risks & Early Rewards
• 5/16 14:00-14:45 [Stage B] - From Japan to the World: Revolutionizing the Future with the World Largest Strawberry Plant Factory

??That's all for this week! Thank you for reading(or skimming) ??. I hope you will have a wonderful week ahead, Golden Week!

*Consulting Service is available for your Japan-related climate or net-zero business. The first 30 minutes of Zoom chat is free, and I could work at an hourly rate starting at $100. Please fill out your request using this link. Thank you!

"Climate Curation" newsletter in ????Japanese (every Saturday) is available on Linkedin/note/theLetter.

• Please feel free to contact me via?email: hiroyasu.ichikawa [@]socialcompany.org, if there are any research/consulting needs for your business or just for a coffee chat?.
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ichi (Hiroyasu Ichikawa)