By Shehaan Sahni

Abstract

This article underscores the global commitment to a sustainable future, as epitomised by initiatives like the Paris Agreement, with Japan as a key participant. Japan’s energy diplomacy is then analysed, emphasising its focus on energy security, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability. This is done through principal strategies which include promoting renewable energy, global energy governance, and fostering international partnerships. Despite these efforts, Japan also faces criticism across a wide range of spectrums regarding energy, notably for its continued reliance on fossil fuels, especially coal, and the controversial use of nuclear energy.

Introduction

Ever since the industrial revolution within Europe in the 18th century, the large-scale consumption of fossil fuels such as coal, oil in the 20th century, and gas in the 21st century; the wrath of the environment faces humanity in the form of global issues such as climate change. In an effort to combat such challenges that pose grave threats to the existence of mankind, many countries all over the globe have been pledging to work towards a green and sustainable future with an emphasis on decarbonisation. Guiding this global effort has been the global energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables through a plethora of initiatives such as the 2015 Paris Agreement. In that endeavour, Japan, a developed technological behemoth, is one of the many countries that has committed itself to a constantly evolving and adaptable energy diplomacy that works towards a renewable and sustainable future. This paper explores Japan’s multifaceted energy diplomacy, driven by energy security, economic efficiency, and environmental goals. It analyses Japan’s efforts to secure resources, promote global energy cooperation, and transition to renewable energy, utilising its technological prowess and partnerships (e.g., the Japan-US Dialogue, Cool Earth initiative). However, criticisms regarding continued reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear power raise questions about Japan’s full commitment to sustainability. This analysis examines these intricacies and the evolving nature of Japan’s energy diplomacy in a global context. 

Energy Diplomacy Efforts and Key Strategies

Guided by a set of principles, Japan’s energy diplomacy policy framework keeps in mind its own energy security, especially due to it having to import a majority of its energy resources. Its policy also highlights the efficient use of funds and other economic aspects in the realm of energy to maximise gains, and finally ensure that a sustainable future is assured for the entire world through safeguarding the environment. 

Japan also seeks to build a global vision for a shared future wherein five key initiatives have been underlined that range from the promotion of free trade and investment in energy to developing new forms of renewable energy and boosting global energy governance. Through interdependence within the international hemisphere, Japan seeks to foster an environment where each member of the world has access to energy at all times. 

Japan further emphasises heavily upon the need for a transition from fossil fuels towards renewable forms of energy while adhering to values such as bolstering the efficiency of energy and reducing the strain on the environment by slicing down environmental costs adequately. Hence, furthering this agenda has been the cornerstone of modern Japanese energy diplomacy. Being a developed country with a reputed technological and innovative prowess, Japan has been using its widely-encompassing influence within multilateral platforms such as the G7 and the G20 to inculcate green energy practices within other members of the global hemisphere.

Partnerships also play a key role in Japan’s energy diplomacy. The 2022 Japan-US Energy Security Dialogue witnessed the two historically tied nations affirming the importance of energy security within the world, especially considering the repercussions of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine upon the availability of energy within vulnerable populations of the world. Citing the Minerals Security Partnership, both countries reiterated the significance of adopting a more pragmatic approach towards energy transition. Heavy emphasis had also been put on safeguarding critical minerals and ensuring the maintenance of a critical mineral supply chain that is robust due to their inherent vitality for transitioning towards clean energy.

Furthermore, Japan has been adopting initiatives under the banner of ‘Cool Earth’, which encompasses schemes spanning from a grassroots level to domestic, bilateral, and multilateral platforms. The ‘Cool Earth 50’ campaign had been launched by the then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in an effort to curtail and curb global carbon dioxide emissions by 50% by 2050. The core of this initiative had been the widely acclaimed Kyoto Protocol, which effectively implements the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by mandating industrialised nations and transitioning economies to constrain and diminish emissions of greenhouse gases in alignment with mutually established specific targets. Through the Cool Earth Promotion Program, Cool Earth Partnerships are established wherein Japan provides aid to developing countries in an effort to deplete greenhouse gas emissions and elevate economic growth. Moreover, Japan put forth immense pressure and support for the climate change and environmental agenda at the multilateral stage within the G8 summit in Hokkaido in 2008, and during Japan’s chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2010. 

Criticism

Although Japan has carefully compiled and propagated multifaceted plans and initiatives for green energy and towards achieving a sustainable environment, it still faces frequent backlash on issues relating to complacency and not enough commitment. 

Even though the country deliberates frequently across a wide variety of platforms regarding clean energy, the fact that Japan’s baseline electricity source remains to be coal-fired power underlines hypocrisy. Presently, coal constitutes over 25% of the nation’s primary energy provision. Japanese enterprises persist in the advancement and construction of coal-fired facilities domestically and internationally, while Japanese financial institutions rank prominently as major backers of coal power projects globally. Furthermore, the other primary energy sources of Japan are more non-renewable sources of energy such as oil and natural gas. Moreover, Japan had not been one of the countries that had adhered to the urging of the United Nations to stop building new coal power plants after 2020, unlike many European nations. The country has cited its own lack of resources as the reason for relying upon many sources of energy, including fossil fuels, leading to the inability to completely strike out a source of energy. To tackle the emissions produced by using coal as a source of energy, Japan had announced plans for the construction of cleaner and highly efficient coal power plants. However, despite the obvious notion that coal power remains to be the issue at hand, it had been estimated that these would bring about only a 20-30% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Additionally, many scholars and thinkers believe Japan’s employment of nuclear energy to be impractical and misguided. Besides the inherent dangers that surround the concept of nuclear power, it has been incessantly recapitulated that due to Japan being a natural disaster prone country, nuclear power plants tend to become massive hazards. This had been visible during the meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011 which had led to a dramatic decrease in the employment of nuclear power in Japan as well as the shutting down of almost every nuclear power plant in the following years. Even though a few nuclear power plants have been restarted ever since, a majority of them still remain inoperational due to legal hurdles. Moreover, an atmosphere of complacency at the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has existed that had been a major causal factor of the aforementioned Fukushima disaster. Many factors had been overlooked regarding assessing the threats to the nuclear power plant from large tsunamis. 

Furthermore, although the support for nuclear power has been rising in Japan once again and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry has projected that nuclear power will provide 20-22% of the energy mix in 2030, environmental scholars remain incessant about the uncertainty of success for the goal and further promote that the shortfall of the nuclear power might be met by fossil fuel anyways. Even former foreign minister Taro Kono’s advisory panel on climate change had recommended reducing Japan’s nuclear dependence as much as possible as it is a high investment risk.   

Conclusion

This assessment of Japan’s energy diplomacy uncovers a multifaceted terrain marked by a variety of initiatives and inherent intricacies. The analysis has delved into key aspects of Japan’s energy diplomacy, underscoring the country’s proactive involvement in energy endeavours both domestically and internationally. From deliberate investments in renewable energy technologies to active participation in global climate accords, Japan has exhibited a dedication to tackling energy-related challenges on a worldwide scale. Nevertheless, despite the presence of such laudable commitments, critiques of Japan’s energy policies have also been articulated, encompassing concerns over reliance on fossil fuels, perceived shortcomings in transitioning to sustainable energy sources, and the inherent dangers that come from harnessing nuclear energy. However, despite such criticisms, Japan’s energy diplomacy continues to persist and persevere as an ever-changing phenomenon that is influenced by factors across a wide variety of spectrums. Japan is certainly on the right track towards achieving a sustainable and renewable energy future through the various dialogues, initiatives, partnerships, and innovations that it is undertaking and will continue to propose on a global scale. 

Author’s Bio

Shehaan Sahni is a student pursuing a B.A. (Hons.) in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the Jindal School of International Affairs. He has a zealous interest in Japan, modern history, and international relations.

Image Source: https://www.giga-hamburg.de/en/publications/giga-focus/energy-transition-in-japan-from-consensus-to-controversy