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October FY2024
The Sixth International Conference on Carbon Recycling Held

The Sixth International Conference on Carbon Recycling Held

October 11, 2024

On Friday, October 11, 2024, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) jointly held the Sixth International Conference on Carbon Recycling 2024. As a representative of METI, Mr. Takeuchi Shinji, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, attended the conference. He explained Japan's latest efforts as well as Japanese companies’ excellent initiatives and conveyed the importance of carbon recycling to achieve carbon neutrality.

In addition, concerning carbon recycling, in which carbon dioxide is utilized as a resource, participants held discussions on the following three themes in the form of speeches and panel discussions held by representatives of the government, industry, and academic sectors in member countries: [i] the role of carbon recycling toward carbon neutrality, [ii] international expansion of the carbon recycling market and investment promotion, and [iii] technological development for carbon recycling. They confirmed challenges that they should address for further development and then published a summary document that summarized the messages delivered through the speeches and panel discussions. Furthermore, Japan explained its carbon recycling technology through a networking occasion between experts and students, who will play a leading role in next-generation carbon recycling, as well as through a poster exhibition showcased by companies and associations.

1. Overview

Date and time: Friday, October 11, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Venue: The Westin Hotel Tokyo (11-12, Minato Ward, Tokyo) and online format
Number of participants: 291 onsite participants and 551 online participants
Number of participating countries: 27 countries and regions

2. Major participants

Mr. Takeuchi Shinji, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, METI
Dr. Nuki Agya Utama, Head, Asia Zero Emission Centre, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
Ms. Carmela Pavlic Searle, Director for Energy Diversification, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia
Dr. Timur GÜL, Chief Energy Technology Officer, Energy Technology Policy Division, International Energy Agency (IEA)
Mr. Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Department of Energy (DOE), the United States
Mr. Alexandre Paquot, Director for Innovation, Adaptation, Resilience, and Stakeholder Relations, Innovation for a Low Carbon, Resilient Economy (CLIMA.C), European Commission
Mr. Mitsuoka Tsugio , Chairperson, Carbon Recycling Fund Institute (CRF)

3. Outcomes

The summary document, a compilation of messages delivered through speeches and panel discussions by the government, industry, and academic sectors in member countries, confirmed that carbon dioxide capture and utilization (CCU) and carbon recycling play an important role in approaches to carbon neutrality and that member countries should further accelerate their efforts. It also recognized that efforts for carbon recycling have been advancing in a variety of fields and that more and more other Asian countries are steadily showing interest in technological progress, CCU, and carbon recycling. Meanwhile, the document also pointed out that member countries should strive to address new challenges that arise as technological development progresses, including an ideal approach to environmental values, such as allocation of carbon dioxide emissions among stakeholders and the need to build carbon dioxide supply chains through collaboration between industries.

As a related event, the conference also provided a networking occasion between university students and overseas experts visiting Japan, as an effort to contribute to the development of human resources who will play a leading role in next generation carbon recycling. In addition, it showcased a panel exhibition to explain Japanese companies’ carbon recycling efforts. Through these occasions, Japan conveyed its CCU and carbon recycling technologies and initiatives to the rest of the world.

Momentum for carbon management, including carbon dioxide capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR), has been growing worldwide, and international initiatives for such management have also been becoming more active. Against this backdrop, Japan will promote international cooperation and accelerate its efforts to disseminate carbon recycling.