The EU-Japan Centre organized a webinar on Japan’s green transformation (GX) strategy on 18 April 2024, with 430 participants. The webinar featured Mr. Izuru Kobayashi, Deputy Director-General for Environmental Affairs from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, who provided an in-depth explanation of Japan’s current GX trends, policies, future developments as well as potential cooperation with the EU. Mr. Bruno Gaussorgues, Representative Director of Société Générale Groupe Japan shared his insights from the private sector. 

Japan, along with other key economies such as the EU and the United States, is striving to achieve decarbonization, economic growth, and industrial competitiveness simultaneously. To realize carbon neutrality by 2050, Japan has enacted the Energy-Climate Policy Packages in 2021 and the “GX Promotion Strategy” in July 2023. The government is not only accelerating the implementation and technology advancement of offshore wind, green hydrogen, and ammonia, but it is also reinforcing Transition Finance in hard-to-abate sectors by introducing layered policies, as well as issuing GX Economy Transition Bonds.
From a private sector perspective, Société Générale discussed the characteristics and challenges, including technological, supply chain, and price risks faced by energy transition projects. 

Questions addressed included the EU-Japan Green Alliance, the potential effects of the European election, as well as specific application measures. Presentation materials and the recorded video can be found on the Centre’s website (in the free box on the left side of the page).