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State Minister Nakatani Attends the Global Clean Energy Action Forum (GCEAF)

Japanese

September 26, 2022

Energy and Environment Policy
Mr. Nakatani Shinichi, State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, visited Pittsburgh, the US from September 21 (Wed.) to September 25 (Sun.) to attend the Global Clean Energy Action Forum (GCEAF).

1. Global Clean Energy Action Forum (GCEAF)

State Minister Nakatani attended the CEM/MI Joint Ministerial Plenary, various roundtables and side events at the Global Clean Energy Action Forum (GCEAF)*, which was held by the US from September 21 to September 23.

(*) The CEM (Clean Energy Ministerial) and MI (Mission Innovation) Ministerial Meeting were previously held individually every year. This time, however, these two were combined and jointly held as the Global Clean Energy Action Forum (GCEAF) hosted by the US.
 

(1) About MI (Mission Innovation)
Launched in 2016 after proposal from like-minded participating countries at COP21 in 2015, Mission Innovation is a global initiative to further stimulate public-private investment in research and development (R&D) in the field of clean energy. Japan has been a member since its inauguration. With the five years of activities from 2016 to 2021 as the first phase, the second phase of activities was launched at the previous ministerial meeting. Mission Innovation's members are the EU and other 22 countries. These include the seven main countries involved (the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan), as well as India, Australia, and four Nordic countries. This year marked its 7th meeting.

(2) About the CEM (Clean Energy Ministerial)
The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) is a meeting that brings together ministers and officials in the field of clean energy (renewable energy, energy efficiency, nuclear power, hydrogen, CCUS, etc.) from 28 major developed and emerging countries and the European Union, including the United States, European countries, China, and India, with the aim of disseminating and promoting technologies in the field of clean energy worldwide. This year marked its 13th meeting.

At the CEM13/MI7 Joint Ministerial Plenary held on September 22, State Minister Nakatani mentioned the importance of international efforts on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology and the necessity of efforts to build a hydrogen society, in which Japan is leading the world. He also announced that Japan would promote all efforts—ranging from research and development to widespread use and deployment of clean energy—toward achieving carbon neutrality.

The state minister participated in a roundtable on advancing nuclear deployment for global energy security held on the same day, and expressed his opinions on matters such as the promotion of private investment in nuclear power projects and PR strategies for innovative nuclear technology. He also participated in a roundtable on a critical tool of carbon management: removing carbon dioxide from the air, and discussed topics such as challenges in transportation and storage technologies related to carbon removal and efforts to find solutions for them. Furthermore, he participated in a roundtable on hydrogen, and spoke about how countries need to make a clear commitment to creating a hydrogen society and how it is important to develop technologies to reduce costs.

State Minister Nakatani participated in a side event “Unlocking Large-scale Development of Low-carbon Hydrogen: The role of nuclear and renewable energies” held on September 23, and discussed the possibility of producing hydrogen using high-temperature gas reactors and the acceleration of cooperation with related countries. He also participated in a side event on the First Movers Coalition “Creating the Clean Energy Markets of the Future” and mentioned the need to generate initial demand through government support for low-carbon technologies and the formulation of criteria for targeted technologies to promote efforts by private companies. In addition, he strongly asserted that green transformation (GX) was not an impediment to the economy but rather a key to growth.

2. Meetings with countries' representatives

(1) Meeting with the Hon Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources of Canada

At the meeting with the Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, held during the reception on the 21st, State Minister Nakatani discussed the importance of efforts toward ensuring energy security based on the current global situation and strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Japan and Canada in the fields of nuclear power, LNG, and hydrogen.

(2) Meeting with Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency

At the meeting with Director Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency, views were exchanged on topics such as the safety review of the ALPS treated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

(3) Meeting with Ms. Ann-Mari Kemell, State Secretary to Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland

At the meeting with Secretary Ann-Mari Kemell, the two sides confirmed the importance of stable energy supply and discussed cooperation in the field of nuclear energy including the final disposal of radioactive waste.

(4) Meeting with the Hon Graham Stuart, Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (Minister of State for Climate)

At the meeting with the Hon Graham Stuart, State Minister Nakatani explained the importance of GX and Japan-UK nuclear cooperation focusing on high-temperature gas reactors. Minister Stuart mentioned the results of COP26 and subsequent global efforts toward carbon neutrality. In addition, they discussed energy security.

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