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Tokyo GX Week Held

Japanese

October 26, 2022

Energy and Environment Policy
  • The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) held Tokyo GX Week (September 26 to October 7), an intensive series of international conferences related to energy and the environment, with a view toward achieving GX (green transformation). More than 13,000 people participated online or in person.
  • GX week's logo
  • Second Asia Green Growth Partnership Ministerial Meeting (AGGPM) (September 26)
  • 4th International Conference on Carbon Recycling (September 26)
  • 5th Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting (September 26)
  • Second International Conference on Fuel Ammonia (September 28)
  • 11th LNG Producer-Consumer Conference (September 29)
  • Second Asia CCUS Network Forum (September 30)
  • 4th TCFD Summit 2022 (October 5)
  • 9th Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF) (October 5, 6)
  • Leaders Session of the 4th RD20 Conference (October 6)
  • First Global GX Conference (GGX) (October 7)

METI invited ministers from various countries and global experts and leaders from different fields to hold Tokyo GX Week toward achieving GX (green transformation), a process that will mean shifting from the fossil fuel–dependent economic, social, and industrial structures that have prevailed since the Industrial Revolution to ones based predominantly on clean energy, and will lead to reduced emissions and economic growth and development.

Based on the discussions at each meeting during Tokyo GX Week, each country will make every effort to swiftly take effective measures to achieve GX and expand it globally.

(1) Second Asia Green Growth Partnership Ministerial Meeting (AGGPM) (September 26)

Ministers and delegates representing 20 countries—mainly in Asia—and three international organizations held in-depth discussions on diverse and realistic energy transitions that will ensure energy security and enable countries to achieve sustainable economic growth and carbon neutrality at the same time. The countries and international organizations said they welcomed Japan's support based on the AETI and endorsed the idea of diverse and realistic energy transitions that make use of various options by taking into account the circumstances of each country. They also introduced their own efforts toward promoting energy transition. The participants also underlined the fact that achieving global carbon neutrality will require innovation and financing to support energy transitions in each country. The Chair's Summary was published on the basis of these discussions in the meeting. In addition, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) released the final report on the Asia Transition Finance Guidelines. Financial institutions mainly in Asia, Europe, and the US have been discussing these in depth since last year in order to mobilize funding for transition technologies. ERIA also showcased ten transition technologies that will contribute to energy transitions. Also, Japanese companies introduced nine initiatives that will contribute to energy transitions in Asia and the Middle East, and 11 MOUs were signed regarding projects that will contribute to energy transitions in Asia.

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(2) 4th International Conference on Carbon Recycling (September 26)

The conference included lectures and panel discussions on carbon recycling (which uses CO2 as a resource) by representatives from industry, academia, and government of various countries. Through these, the participants shared advancement in the carbon recycling sector such as active international efforts and the rise of startups, and confirmed issues to be addressed for further development. In particular, as this year marks the opening of the carbon recycling R&D and demonstration base in Osakikamijima, Hiroshima, METI showcased its attractiveness and potential. The participants welcomed this initiative and confirmed the importance of international cooperation and collaboration among research bases in each country.
In addition, as an outcome of the conference, METI presented Japan's efforts toward social implementation of carbon recycling over the last year in the form of a report summarizing the progress made, including the opening of a carbon recycling R&D and demonstration base and development in the calls and adoptions for the Green Innovation Fund. Japan will strengthen international cooperation and accelerate efforts to widely spread the use of carbon recycling. (About 1,200 people from 23 countries and regions participated in the conference)

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(3) 5th Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting (September 26)

Participating in the 5th Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting were 15 ministers, a total of 30 countries, regions, and international organizations, including participation through video messages.
As a result of the meeting, the chair released their summary for acceleration and enlargement of the Tokyo Statement and the Global Action Agenda, including “additional goals related to the amount of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen to be produced by 2030 of at least 90Mt H2,” “the importance of hydrogen for energy security and climate change,” “the need to increase the number of countries and regions that are newly interested in hydrogen,” “the importance of providing appropriate support to promote the utilization of hydrogen according to the situation in each country,” “the ramping up of global renewable and low-carbon hydrogen value chains,” and “the collaboration on technologies and coordination on harmonization of regulations, codes and standards.”

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(4) Second International Conference on Fuel Ammonia (September 28)

Hosted by Japan, the Second International Conference on Fuel Ammonia was an online gathering of industry, international organizations, and government representatives from participating countries expected to play a central role in the production and use of fuel ammonia, becoming a new platform for them. It was attended by more than 1,500 people from nine countries.
At the conference, various representatives gave lectures, the Public-Private Council on Fuel Ammonia 'Fuel Ammonia Supply Cost Analysis' (interim report) by the fuel ammonia supply chain public-private task force was released, the International Energy Agency (IEA) presented the interim report on the 'Role of Low-emission Fuels in Managing Seasonal Variability of Renewables,' the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) issued 'Co-firing of Clean Ammonia for Decarbonization in Asia,' and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Japanese and US companies concerning development of low-carbon ammonia production at the Port of Corpus Christi.
The meeting showed that the government and private sectors have been introducing and discussing strategic efforts that have been further expanded and solidified since the previous meeting toward building stable, affordable, and flexible fuel ammonia supply chains and markets. The participants confirmed the progress in international collaboration in fuel ammonia over the last year.

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(5) 11th LNG Producer-Consumer Conference (September 29)

Amidst the drastic changes in the international energy situation, participants of the 11th LNG Producer-Consumer Conference deepened discussions on the future market prospects for LNG, which is attracting increasing attention not only as a response to climate change but also from the perspective of a stable energy supply and the measures required from the public and private sectors. Messages from ministers from more than 25 countries and from the leaders of more than 50 companies and international organizations were posted on the website, and some 1,600 people from 44 countries and regions attended the conference. At the conference, METI Minister Nishimura sent a message that there has never been a time when dialogue and cooperation among producing and consuming countries is more needed, that LNG is an indispensable resource for energy transition and stable supply in Asia, and that he hopes that all countries and international organizations will join the circle of cooperation that Japan is promoting.

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(6) Second Asia CCUS Network Forum (September 30)

Co-hosted by METI and ERIA, the meeting featured messages from Minister Nishimura and other ministers and government officials representing eight member countries of the Asia CCUS Network, including Japan, and was attended by about 70 people in person and about 600 online. The participants deepened the discussions toward realizing an Asia-wide network for CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). CCUS is expected to be key to achieve both sustainable growth and decarbonization. In addition, as a future vision Asia CCUS Network announced that it will build an Asia-wide CCUS network by 2030 and create a CCS pilot project in ASEAN by 2025.

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(7) 4th TCFD Summit 2022 (October 5)

Leaders from the industrial and financial sectors discussed how to promote further use of the TCFD recommendations in order to encourage the expansion of disclosure that will provide a sound basis for appropriate investment decisions. Specifically, the following views were shared as key outcomes (about 2,600 people participated).

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(8) 9th Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF) (October 5, 6)

With about 1,600 registered participants from 87 countries and regions, the forum brought together industry, government, and academia leaders from around the world to discuss the importance of innovation toward solving climate change problems. This year, the younger generations (people under the age of 35, who will be leading society in 2050) once again took the stage in each session. The main theme was "Low-Carbon Innovation in a Time of Crises," and the focus was on action to spur on the creation of innovation to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The topics discussed included the importance of pursuing various approaches in line with the respective circumstances in each country and region, and action and innovation required in five technological fields. An ICEF Statement incorporating the results of these discussions was adopted. In addition, draft/overview roadmaps (low-carbon ammonia and blue carbon) were released with recommendations on approaches and methods for the major innovative technologies that will contribute in the short and long terms to achieving carbon neutrality.

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(9) Leaders Session of the 4th RD20 Conference (October 6)

Representatives of research institutes in the field of clean energy from 19 countries and regions held discussions on strengthening international collaboration (there were about 1,052 registered participants).
Aiming to further flesh out the Leaders' Statement adopted last time at the 3rd RD20 Conference, the participants discussed measures to encourage cooperation in research and development. There were agreements on forming task groups on solar power generation and hydrogen technology and developing high-level human resources (e.g., through exchanges between researchers), and the results were adopted as a Leaders' Recommendation. Before the Leaders Session, Technical Sessions were also held and included discussions from a technical viewpoint on (1) hydrogen life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis, (2) renewable energy generation and integration, and (3) carbon management. Furthermore, the Workshop for International Collaboration was held for the first time. The participants identified technical themes that RD20 should tackle by setting up task forces, and discussed them in order to connect them to international joint research.

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(10) First Global GX Conference (GGX) (October 7)

The conference was held for the first time with discussions on achieving global green transformation (GX). Participants from five G7 countries, two international organizations, twelve universities, research institutes, and private companies gave presentations (there were about 1,390 viewers). International discussions were held on unresolved issues to move toward realizing GX, including the concept of Mitigation Contribution, which evaluates the dissemination of energy conservation and other technologies that contribute to emission reduction in society.

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