Europe has the ambition to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The EU Green Deal, the green recovery plan, or the recently announced reinforcement of the 2030 target for CO2 emission reduction are all part of this agenda. The private sector also plays a key role. A study published earlier this year showed that 49 of the 100 most sustainable companies in the world are from Europe – while only 6 are Japanese.
If other countries follow the European lead, the world will be able to keep warming below 1.5 degrees. As the 3rd economy worldwide and a leader in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan is a strategic partner for the EU in the fight against climate change.
Many exchanges contributing to the low-carbon transition are already active between businesses from Europe and Japan. Offshore wind energy for instance sees industry leaders from both side join forces for projects in Japan, Europe and other regions. Examples include Japanese companies MHI, Kyuden Mirai or Taisei working respectively with Vestas (Denmark), RWE Renewables (Germany) or Ideol (France). Economic cooperation and trade exchange beneficial for climate also reaches sectors beyond energy. On the Japanese consumer goods market, Ikea, L'Oréal or Unilever demonstrate how European brands are rapidly transforming their production and distribution models towards sustainability.
In order to support and strengthen this dynamic, the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation launches this October a one year cycle of seminars, webinars and conferences, with the financial support of the European Union's Foreign Policy Instrument. These events, gathering climate action leaders from Europe and Japan, will cover topics such as the acceleration of renewable energy, the role of local governments in low-carbon transition, the emergence of clean hydrogen, and more.
A website highlighting success stories of climate cooperation between European and Japanese stakeholders will accompany these events.
Interested businesses and local governments are invited to contact the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation for further information.
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Published: October 2020