G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth Held

1. G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth

(1) Outline

Date: June 15 (Saturday) and 16 (Sunday), 2019

Venue: Karuizawa Town, Nagano

Participants: 25 members and regions
(Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, ROK, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Viet Nam)

Invited international organizations: 16 organizations
(Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan Business Federation (B20), Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), International Energy Agency (IEA), International Energy Forum (IEF), International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), United Nations Environment Programe (UNEP), World Bank (WB), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and World Economic Forum (WEF))

(2) Details of the discussions

The global situation surrounding energy and the environment is changing drastically. G20 held the first meeting where energy ministers and environment ministers came together to discuss issues on climate change and securing affordable, reliable, accessible energy [systems] for supporting global economic growth.

i. Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting

• G20 members agreed to the concept of a virtuous cycle of environment and growth and the importance of the three pillars of actions to achieve the concept, namely: (i) innovation, (ii) mobilization of finance, and (iii) improvement of business environments. G20 members also agreed to the G20 Karuizawa Innovation Action Plan on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth, which specifies concrete actions for realizing this concept.
• G20 members also delivered a unified message on climate change issues. Specifically, G20 members reached a consensus for the first time related to recognizing global challenges including climate change is urgent, the importance of long-term low emissions strategies, and acknowledging that G20 members have and continue to take concrete and practical actions to address these challenges.
• G20 members welcomed to launch an international conference, called Research and Development 20 for clean energy technologies (RD20), to promote international collaborative relationships among leading R&D institutes from G20 members.
• Additionally, G20 members agreed to acknowledge the importance of enhancing global communication between business and financial sectors to increase transparency and help mobilize private finance, and the significance of improving business environments for dissemination of innovative technologies and so on.

ii. Energy Ministers’ Meeting

• In the field of energy, ministers shared awareness concerning the significance of innovation as a driving force for energy transitions and the significance of promoting innovation in diverse areas, such as hydrogen, Carbon dioxide Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS), and Carbon Recycling in particular, which Japan has been advocating.
• While referring to concerns arising recently, ministers shared the idea that it is important for G20 members, whose energy demand accounts for more than 80% of the global total, to take initiatives in efforts for ensuring energy security. Participating ministers also agreed to joint efforts for addressing the issue of energy access.
• Furthermore, ministers shared awareness concerning the significance of efforts for promoting energy conservation, such as making visible energy consumption efficiencies of industry and products, proceeding with the Well to Wheel(*) analysis in the automotive sector, expanding the use of renewable energy and promoting technologies for power system stabilization, setting up an international roundtable on nuclear innovation and final disposal, promoting investment in low-carbon power sources, enhancing efficiencies of thermal power generation, and developing a natural gas market.
• * A concept to evaluate emissions not only from automobile operation but also taking into account production process of gasoline and electricity.
• On the previous day, the G20 IEA Hydrogen Report Launch Event was also held in Karuizawa in collaboration with the IEA and the Hydrogen Council. Mr. Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Dr. Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, and Mr. Potier, Chairman of the Hydrogen Council, attended the event. This report is the IEA's first comprehensive report on hydrogen prepared in response to a request of the Government of Japan and contains a comparison of costs of supply and transport of hydrogen, and introduction of industrial use of hydrogen in ironmaking and petroleum refinery, as well as policy recommendations.

(See the following METI website for detail:

(2) Outcome documents

• Communiqué (original)(PDF:162KB)
• G20 Karuizawa Innovation Action Plan on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth (original)(PDF:227KB)
• [Annex to the G20 Karuizawa Innovation Action Plan]A Collaborative Endeavor Templates for the G20 Karuizawa Innovation Action Plan on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth(PDF:651KB)

2. Bilateral meetings (Minister Seko)

Minister Seko had bilateral meetings with Mr. Arias Canete, Commissioner for Climate Action & Energy, European Commission, Mr. Brouillette, Deputy Secretary of Energy of the United States, Mr. Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, Mr. La Camera，Director General of IRENA, Mr. Singh, Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy of India, Ms. Poirson, Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition of France, Mr. Jonan, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, Mr. Taylor, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction of Australia, and Mr. Donmez, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey. Additionally, with the EU, Indonesia, and Australia, Minister Seko signed memorandums on bilateral cooperation and a joint communique and exchanged opinions concerning bilateral energy cooperation and the global energy situation, etc. Japan, the United States and the EU agreed to a joint statement on the strengthening of cooperation in the field of hydrogen.

(1) Meeting with Mr. Arias Canete, Commissioner for Climate Action & Energy, European Commission

Both parties discussed cooperation between Japan and the EU in the fields of hydrogen, LNG, Carbon Recycling, etc. and agreed to a joint announcement on Japan-EU innovation cooperation and the joint statement on Japan-US-EU cooperation in the field of hydrogen.

• The Press Statement for strengthening “EU-Japan energy dialogue and cooperation on innovation for advancing clean energy transition and addressing climate change”(PDF:147KB)

(2) Announcement of the Joint Statement on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells by Japan, the United States and the EU

METI, the Directorate-General Energy (ENER) of the EC, and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed their intention to strengthen the three-party cooperation concerning technologies on hydrogen and fuel cells and announced the Joint Statement.

• See the following METI website for detail:

(3) Meeting with Mr. Brouillette, Deputy Secretary of Energy of the United States

Both parties confirmed their intention to continue cooperation in the field of LNG as part of Japan-US cooperation for achieving the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy.” Regarding the field of nuclear energy, both parties welcomed their signing of the memorandum on research cooperation for the versatile test reactor (VTR) program, concerning which the United States is planning construction, and discussed the further strengthening of Japan-US cooperation in this field, including cooperation in final disposal and decommissioning, etc.

(4) Meeting with Mr. Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia

Both parties confirmed the significance of stable oil supply and market stability, and discussed cooperation in wider fields of energy conservation and renewable energy, in addition to the field of oil, and Japan’s assistance to the reform of Saudi Arabia through the Japan-Saudi Vision 2030.

(5) Meeting with Mr. La Camera, Director General of IRENA

Both parties discussed the expansion of the introduction of renewable energy in the world and cooperation in the field of hydrogen.

(6) Meeting with Mr. Singh, Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy of India

The progress of the “Japan-India Energy Transition Cooperation Plan” was reported and both parties confirmed their intention to strengthen cooperation.

(7) Meeting with Ms. Poirson, Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition of France

Both parties discussed mutual cooperation in the fields of hydrogen and nuclear energy and agreed to the further strengthening of collaboration in the field of energy innovation.

(8) Meeting with Mr. Jonan, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia

Both parties discussed bilateral cooperation in the fields of natural gas and electricity. Both ministers witnessed the signing of the Head of agreement on the natural gas development project in Masela Block between the Government of Indonesia and INPEX Corporation.

• The Memorandum of cooperation on the energy sector(PDF:55KB)

• 
  Meeting with Minister Jonan
• 
  Witness to the signing of the Head of agreement on the project in Masela Block

(9) Meeting with Mr. Taylor, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction of Australia

Both parties discussed mutual cooperation in the fields of hydrogen and Carbon Recycling, etc. and signed the Memorandum on cooperation in the energy

field for further strengthening bilateral cooperation made so far.

• The Memorandum of Cooperation on Energy and Minerals Cooperation(PDF:35KB)

(10) Meeting with Mr. Donmez, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey

Both parties discussed means of cooperation in a broad range of energy fields, including renewable energy and nuclear energy.

3. Other bilateral meetings (Senior Vice Minister Seki, Parliamentary Secretary Ishikawa, and Director-General of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE))

Senior Vice Minister Seki exchanged opinions with Dr. Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry of Singapore. Parliamentary Secretary Ishikawa exchanged opinions respectively with Mr. Albuquerque, Minister of Mines and Energy of Brazil, Dr. Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, Mr. Crippa, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development of Italy, Mr. Magwood, Director-General of the NEA, and Mr. Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Canada. Director-General of ANRE Takahashi exchanged opinions with Mr. Feicht, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany.

(1) Meeting between Senior Vice Minister Seki and Dr. Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry of Singapore

Both parties discussed future bilateral cooperation in the field of electricity, etc.

(2) Meeting between Parliamentary Secretary Ishikawa and Mr. Albuquerque, Minister of Mines and Energy of Brazil

Both parties discussed further progress in the bilateral cooperation concerning infrastructure to foster human resources well-versed in the energy conservation that has been taking place between the two members.

(3) Meeting between Parliamentary Secretary Ishikawa and Dr. Birol, Executive Director of the IEA

Both parties welcomed the launch of the IEA Hydrogen Report and agreed to the strengthening of cooperation between Japan and the IEA.

(4) Meeting between Parliamentary Secretary Ishikawa and Mr. Crippa, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development of Italy

Both parties discussed the progress of bilateral cooperation, concerning matters such as the utilization of hydrogen.

(5) Meeting between Parliamentary Secretary Ishikawa and Mr. Magwood, Director-General of the NEA

Both parties discussed common issues in the field of nuclear energy, including cooperation at a roundtable concerning final disposal.

(6) Meeting between Parliamentary Secretary Ishikawa and Mr. Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Canada

Both parties welcomed the memorandum on cooperation in the field of energy signed between Minister Seko and Mr. Sohi, Minister of Natural Resources of Canada and discussed bilateral cooperation including that in the fields of oil and natural gas.

• The Memorundum of Cooperation in the Field of Energy(PDF:80KB)

(7) Meeting between Director-General of ANRE Takahashi and Mr. Feicht, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany

Both parties discussed bilateral cooperation in the innovation and electricity sectors, including the field of hydrogen, and agreed to the Japan-Germany Joint Statement on cooperation in energy transitions.

• The Declaration of Cooperation on Energy Transition(PDF:153KB)

Division in Charge

International Affairs Division, Commissioner's Secretariat, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy