NewsJapan backs fossil fuels in Southeast Asian “zero emission” initiative

Japan backs fossil fuels in Southeast Asian “zero emission” initiative

Japan’s Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) supported 56 projects using fossil fuel technologies in Southeast Asia — including LNG and carbon capture

During his three-year tenure as Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida created the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) to, in his words, “help Asia decarbonise together”.

But a year and a half after AZEC was formally launched, a new report by the international research organization Zero Carbon Analytics shows that one-third of agreements between Japan and AZEC member countries promote or prolong fossil fuels.

Of the 158 projects financed by Japan under this initiative, 56 include fossil fuel technologies such as natural gas, co-firing ammonia with fossil fuel in power plants, hydrogen produced with fossil fuels, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and e-fuels.

A bar chart shows a small share of wind and solar energy compared to a large amount of carbon capture, ammonia and coal co-firing and LNG among Japan-backed projects in AZEC.

A report by Zero Carbon Analytics shows the projects signed under the AZEC initiative leave renewable energy on the sidelines and favour technologies that promote or prolong fossil fuels. (Photo: Zero Carbon Analytics)

The alleged climate benefits of these technologies are hotly disputed. While some studies have claimed gas is a less polluting fossil fuel than the coal used for electricity in much of Southeast Asia, a study published last week suggested that it can actually be more polluting, especially when it is imported across the sea in a liquid form called LNG.

Ammonia co-firing involves burning ammonia alongside coal in coal-fired power plants. While this reduces the amount of coal burned, critics note that the plants still burn mostly coal and that the co-firing can encourage governments to allow the coal-fired power plant to keep operating longer. Similarly, carbon capture and storage technology traps just some of a power plant’s emissions and can encourage the authorities to keep the plant open longer.

Ammonia, hydrogen and e-fuels are all fuels that can be made in more polluting ways using fossil fuels or cleaner ways with renewable electricity.

Louisiana communities are suffering from Japan-funded LNG exports

AZEC was launched in 2023 to advance climate co-operation in Asia, with Japan playing a central role. Kishida likened it to an Asian version of the European Coal and Steel Community – a predecessor to the European Union. Members include most countries in Southeast Asia and Australia.

But Japan’s fossil fuel investments – particularly gas projects – through AZEC are inconsistent with its pledge to stop overseas financing for unabated fossil fuels, experts told Climate Home News.

At their 2022 meeting in Berlin, G7 leaders all agreed to “end new direct public support for the international unabated fossil-fuel energy sector by the end of 2022, except in limited circumstances clearly defined by each country that are consistent with a 1.5 °C warming limit and the goals of the Paris Agreement”.

Amy Kong, author of the report on AZEC, said: “Relying on these technologies is a slower and more expensive path to decarbonisation for the region,

 » …

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Subscribe Today

GET EXCLUSIVE FULL ACCESS TO PREMIUM CONTENT

SUPPORT NONPROFIT JOURNALISM

EXPERT ANALYSIS OF AND EMERGING TRENDS IN CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE

TOPICAL VIDEO WEBINARS

Get unlimited access to our EXCLUSIVE Content and our archive of subscriber stories.

Exclusive content

Latest article

More article