Rising Temperatures, Shifting Strategies: Japan's Energy and Climate Landscape

Welcome! I am Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 117 of the "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter?? The newsletter has been curating Japan-related climate news content weekly since the spring of 2022 and has over 2,440 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)!

Found this week's insights valuable? Please give it a quick "like" or "share" on LinkedIn – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene????

*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 like it.

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

【1】From Naha to Nemuro, how Japan’s cities are responding to more heat [8/8 The Japan Times ??]

• As Japan faces record-breaking heat, cities are adapting with diverse strategies. From Naha's anime-inspired education to Kumagaya's misting systems and Nemuro's growing awareness, the nation is mobilizing to protect its citizens. These efforts highlight the urgent need for climate change adaptation across all regions.
• Naha city has teamed up with Otsuka Pharmaceutical and the popular anime "Cells at Work!" to distribute an educational video on heatstroke prevention through Naha’s official social media accounts and website.

【2】Analysis: What's behind the extreme heat, heavy rains battering Japan [7/30 NHK World]

• A record heatwave has been scorching Japan, pushing the mercury close to the domestic all-time high of 41.1 degrees Celsius. As NHK World meteorologist Tsietsi Monare explains, Japan isn't the only one struggling with the weather. <available to watch on YouTube >

【3】Does Japan's megaquake alert mean the 'big one' is coming? [8/9 BBC]

• Japan's recent earthquake alert for the Nankai Trough has sparked discussions about the long-awaited "big one." Despite scientific skepticism about earthquake prediction, the warning has raised public awareness and encouraged nationwide disaster preparedness.

【4】US, India, Russia, Japan are building out wind power much too slowly for climate change, report says [8/8 AP]

A report by Ember reveals that more than global wind power growth is needed to meet climate goals. While some European countries are progressing well, major economies like the US, India, Russia, and Japan lag despite significant wind potential.

"Like many islands, Japan is also very windy but generates just over 1% of its power from wind. The ocean is very deep, just slightly offshore of Japan, making it more difficult. The country is also steeply mountainous, making it hard to place turbines."

【5】Japan's automakers lose market in China, Thailand as EVs spread -Companies rethink their strategy in these countries as competition accelerates [8/8 Nikkei Asia??]

• Japanese automakers are losing ground in China and Thailand as EV adoption accelerates. They face challenges from local brands offering cheaper, more digitized options. Companies are adapting by streamlining operations and developing market-specific EVs while also considering opportunities in other markets like the US and India.

【6】Key Issues to Address in Japan's Strategic Energy Plan [8/5 Renewable Energy Institute]

• Japan is revising its energy strategy with a focus on decarbonization. The Renewable Energy Institute proposes ambitious renewable targets. It launches a column series to inform policy discussions on achieving climate goals while maintaining economic growth.

【7】Opinion| Singapore's climate tech startups are set to clean up - While facing various hurdles, the city-state is well positioned to become a global hub [8/7 Nikkei Asia??]

• Singapore is emerging as a global climate tech hub, driven by government initiatives, a robust startup ecosystem, and its position as an international trade center. Despite challenges, its innovative solutions and strategic advantages position it well to become a leader in climate technology.
• "Despite its technological prowess, Japan is struggling with its transition to renewable energy and, in contrast to most other developed countries, the fossil share of its grid has increased over the past decade. Combined with the relatively isolated nature of its startup ecosystem, Japan's clean-tech startups may prefer to focus on solving domestic challenges."

【8】New, lower-cost carbon-capture materials in development in Japan - Nitto Denko, JFE Engineering, and Toray work on membranes for factory emissions [8/8 Nikkei Asia??]

• Japanese companies are making great progress in carbon-capture technology. They're working hard to create new, relatively cheap ways to remove carbon from the air. These new methods use special materials called separation membranes. These innovations could significantly reduce the cost of capturing CO2 from industrial emissions, supporting Japan's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and tapping into a growing global market.

【9】Japan fuels U.S. LNG boom even as climate targets and impacts loom [8/11 The Japan Times]

• Japan fuels the U.S. LNG boom through investments and purchases despite climate targets. This expansion impacts Gulf Coast communities and raises questions about LNG's role in energy transition. Japan's choices will significantly influence the future of global LNG markets and climate efforts.

【10】NIKKEI Film: Wooden skyscrapers in the city of the future - Designers dream of 'green' high-rise buildings surpassing 350 meters [7/27 Nikkei Asia??]

• Tokyo is leading an architectural revolution, planning to replace concrete high-rises with wooden structures up to 350 meters tall by 2030. This eco-friendly approach aims to reduce CO2 emissions but faces challenges in cost, design, and safety concerns.

??That's all for this week! Thank you for reading(or skimming) ??. I hope you will have a wonderful summer vacation!

Found this week's news topics valuable? Please give it a quick "like" or "share" on LinkedIn – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene????

*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 like it.

• Please feel free to email me?at hiroyasu.Ichikawa [@]socialcompany.org if you have any research/consulting needs for your business or just want to have a coffee chat?.
• My personal Twitter(X) account (in ????Japanese) @SocialCompany

ichi (Hiroyasu Ichikawa)