Climate activists staged protest rallies in cities across Asia this week to voice their opposition to Japan and the G7’s support for fossil gas and other technologies that prolong the use of fossil fuels. The protests took place ahead of the G7 Leaders Summit in Hiroshima, Japan.
“Japan and the rest of the G7 display a blatant disregard for the pressing needs of both people and the planet, instead of meeting their climate finance obligations and fulfilling their commitment to end by 2022 their public financing of fossil fuels,” said Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) and convenor of the Asian Energy Network (AEN).
Japan, as the G7 president and the only Asian member, is a major funder of fossil fuels, along with Canada, Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The demonstrations, which were organized by the APMDD and member organizations, called for a swift transition to renewable energy systems and condemned Japan’s investment in fossil fuels.
“A swift, equitable, and just transition to renewable energy systems is urgently required, yet the G7’s actions are causing continued suffering in Asian communities as a result of gas projects that have been promoted and financed by Japan, other G7 nations, and the Global North over several decades,” said Nacpil.
Recent tensions have arisen within the G7 regarding gas and fossil derivatives, with Japan favoring their continuation while other members aim to reduce carbon emissions and phase out fossil fuel technologies.
While the G7 energy and climate ministers affirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement, they did not set a timeline for phasing out gas and welcomed gas investments under certain conditions. Hydrogen and ammonia technologies were also accepted as means of decarbonization.
Japan’s “Green Transformation” policy includes significant investments in LNG, hydrogen, and ammonia, with plans to export these technologies to Asian countries.
