Put on your own mask before helping others– my reaction to Japan’s PM Kishida COP26 Speech
I remember when I first flew with our kids on an airplane and watched the safety announcements with new parent eyes– I was completely shocked by the advice that I should put my own mask on first, before the kids, if there was a loss of oxygen in the cabin. This standard airplane protocol rocked by mama bear sensibility to protect my cubs at all costs, but I soon realized it made sense– a dead parent would be useless to help her kids or others in a crisis.
Watching Japan’s newly appointed PM Fumio Kishida at the COP26 podium talking of Japan’s climate aims to support developing countries in Asia transition to a carbon neutral future made me wonder- shouldn’t he put his own mask on first?
Investment in developing economies at the frontlines of climate change, as a part of the UN international efforts, is great to see. But Japan also needs to focus on the many shortfalls of sustainability here– we need strong, domestic strategies to reach our goals first to be a good leader, right?
In the address during the second day of the leaders’ session, the new Japanese leader reaffirmed Tokyo’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent by fiscal 2030 compared with fiscal 2013 levels. Japan will “continue strenuous efforts in its challenge to meet the lofty goal of cutting its emissions by 50 percent,” said Kishida, a former foreign minister.
Having come up with the more ambitious emissions cut target in the run-up to COP26, environmental experts have said Japan’s standing on climate issues, which has often been poorly rated, has greatly improved. But critics have been disturbed by what they view as Japan’s insufficient efforts to phase out coal domestically. Japan, a resource-poor country, is the fifth-largest carbon dioxide emitter after China, the United States, India and Russia.
Kishida emphasized that Japan will play its part not just by cutting its own emissions but by beefing up climate finance to support developing countries in their fight against the crisis. Kyodo News 11/3/2021
Japan has a great worldwide reputation for making high-quality cars and machinery and exporting it for use in developing countries and around the world. However, this commitment to invest in technology that is not yet in use, or proven, is a red flag. Thermal energy production currently relies on coal and oil and the plan is to replace fuel with methane and hydrogen.
Kishida also said Japan will pursue a $100 million project to develop hydrogen or ammonia-fired power generation, which are known as non-carbon emitting, and explore various technologies to realize carbon neutral cars. Kyodo News 11/3/21
The new pipe-dream of methane extraction from the bottom of the sea, shipping and trucking to a facility, using fossil fuels for extraction and transportation, to be used in thermal power production looks to have telltale heavy carbon circular economy problems.
Why not improve Japan’s solar and wind renewable infrastructure first? We know that solar and wind power works and if Japan invested in residential solar and home and office battery storage, the burden on the regional grids would be eased as we would make and keep energy where it is needed.
The Institute for Sustainable Energy Policy (ISEP) in 2020 showed Japan lagging behind EU and China in Renewable Energy Generation trends and future targets. ISEP, 2020
The government aims to have renewables account for 36 to 38 percent of Japan’s total power generation capacity in fiscal 2030, more than double the 18 percent recorded in fiscal 2019, while the percentage of fossil-fuel-fired thermal power has been slashed to 41 percent, down from 76 percent. But the percentage for nuclear power remains unchanged at 20 to 22 percent from the previous plan, released in 2018. Kyodo News 10/6/21
It’s encouraging to see a shift from nuclear power in natural disaster prone Japan. Often touted as ‘clean’ and even considered ‘renewable’ for many years by the nuclear village, a look at the cradle-to-grave circular economy shows its more damaging than efficient. From the resource extraction of nuclear fuel in Australia (using fossil fuels and devastating the environment and communities), shipped to Japan (using fossil fuels), and then delivered to nuclear power plants (again using fossil fuels). Additionally, there’s no ethical way to dispose of the waste, the argument that it is clean and reliable just doesn’t hold water.
It’s true that making solar panels and wind turbines also have environmental costs, but once created, Solar PV’s produce clean energy for 25+ years, and Wind Turbines for 20+ years using only natural elements without creating pollution.
Another aspect to nuclear that doesn’t hold water is the upcoming wastewater dump. The Fukushima nuclear disaster has damaged sales of the fishing industry and tourism and trade with the entire region of Tohoku. The deep devastation on local communities, environment and economy is still far from over, and the upcoming waste-water dump “lacks transparency” according to SAFECAST researcher Azby Brown, and will spread problems far beyond Japan’s borders as the water is released from the crippled plant over decades.
The damaged Fukushima plant will take at least decades to decommission. A swath of land around the plant remains uninhabitable, thousands of residents remain displaced, and the wastewater issue is another example of the 2011 disaster’s complex, long-term effects. NPR 4/13/2021
Japan has been arguing the ‘clean coal’ angle for many years while exporting its machinery and technology to developing countries. Now Japan is still planning to use coal as a key part of its own energy mix past 2030 despite the targets to reduce carbon by 46% of 2013 levels by then. There is absolutely nothing clean about coal even in its most efficient form.
Japan is home to 150 coal-fired power plants. Though cutting-edge facilities emit far less greenhouse gases than their older counterparts, they still produce twice as much or more carbon dioxide as plants that run on LNG. NikkeiAsia 4/10/2021
If we consider the extraction and shipping and use as well as global-warming aftereffects and pollution, coal is devastating on people-planet-profits and nowhere near ‘clean’.
Energy consultants and policymakers like Dan Shulman see progress in meeting Japan’s carbon-neutral goals, but also talk of the need for nuclear and coal in the short-term as Japan transitions to sustainable energy.
One investment that I would like to see more of in Japan is toward energy storage technology. Battery tech investment could help Japan improve energy efficiency, support communities better recovering from natural disasters, and meet future 2030 and 2050 targets.
The electrification of transportation, renewable energy and energy storage for on-demand use are all interrelated issues. Japan had early dominance in battery technology in the 1980’s but other countries have pulled ahead in the last 40 years. Panasonic is still a world leader in battery manufacturing and there is a race to create more efficient, solid batteries in the near future which could be a game-changer putting Japan at the head of the hi-tech pack again.
Overall, I feel hopeful about Japan’s goals for 2030 and 2050. There seems to be good groundwork being made for CleanTech to take off here. Japan already has more EV charging stations than gas stations, so the transition to EV’s (Electric Vehicles) should be easier.
For me, I personally value driving an electric car as I am not creating polluted air for those around me and am able to charge my car at home from the power of the sun on our roof solar PV’s.
There is a growing adoption among the public of more sustainable options that also save us money, time, or which we value more in some way. James Hollow, founder of FABRIC KK, said in a recent interview on the Seeking Sustainability Live talkshow– if the consumer can see value or an advantage in making a more sustainable choice, they find it easier to accept.
As well as being a great leader in the Asian region, I hope to also see more introspection in policymaking in Japan. There are so many efficiency improvements to be made in basic infrastructure– ban single-use plastics, encourage reusable container systems, and mandate composting.
For the Japanese energy and tech markets, let’s revive enthusiasm for more sustainable initiatives among homeowners and businesses to create and store energy where it is needed by reviving subsidies for solar FIT.
Japan has so much to benefit from walking the walk on sustainability, putting on its own mask first, before being effective at helping others.
