Hiroshima, Japan – 350.org joined worldwide protests calling on Japan and the G7 to stop peddling fossil fuels to developing countries, as world leaders convene for the Hiroshima Summit today. Activists organized over 50 actions across 21 countries to demand stronger decarbonisation efforts from the G7 and to pressure Japan to stop derailing the global energy transition to renewable energy.
Alongside a compelling visual action in Hiroshima led by the Fossil Free Japan coalition, activists organized actions across Japan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Estonia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States and Vietnam.
The G7 summit begins just days after the United Nations issued a warning that the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degree threshold could be surpassed as early as 2027.
350.org Asia Regional Director Norly Mercado says,
“The G7 has a historical responsibility to lead the phase out of all fossil fuels, including fossil gas, and to help finance the just transition to renewable energy. This week, communities across Asia and the rest of the world have explicitly told Japan to stop blocking climate action within the G7. This weekend, Japan’s legacy as the G7 president and a supposed “climate leader” of Asia hangs in the balance. The world’s largest economies need to put their money where their mouth is and commit to financing the Just Transition, not more fossil fuels.”
Risa Iizuka, 350.org Japan Organiser says,
“We demand that Japan stop fueling the climate crisis. Japan is currently planning to rely on technology that doesn’t exist yet, LNG which continues to finance Russia and its war, and nuclear power, as it was shown in their GX policies. Meanwhile, the root cause of the crisis, the fossil fuels, remain unaddressed. I want the G7 leaders to discuss as if all our future depends on it, because it does. Our lives depend on their discussions and their decisions. I urge the Japanese government to stop fuelling the climate crisis. The people have done our part of the job, by raising our voices. Now, I want the leaders to listen to those voices and make decisions accordingly.”
Sisilia Nurmala Dewi, 350.org Indonesia Team Lead says,
“G7 countries should exclude false energy transition solutions from energy transition funding schemes of any kind, including the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) and others in Indonesia. If these climate deals finance fossil gas or other false climate solutions, the energy transition in Indonesia could stagnate or fail. The Indonesian people must ensure that the JETP, AZEC and other financing schemes lead to a clean, fair and renewable energy transition. Financing false solutions will frustrate Indonesia’s energy transition goals and exacerbate the already worsening climate crisis.”
Farzana Faruk Jhumu, 350.org Bangladesh Associate Coordinator says,
“The G7 summits have been essential for international cooperation on pressing issues. While we value Japan’s dedication to Bangladesh’s development, we urge them to change their investment approach. Investments in renewable energy instead of fossil fuels would be consistent with Japan’s position as a development partner for Bangladesh. We invite Japan to help Bangladesh on its path to a greener economy, resulting in a win-win scenario for both nations and furthering the global switch to renewable energy sources.”
Chuck Baclagon, 350.org Asia Regional Finance Campaigner says,
“By taking a leadership role in climate action at the upcoming G7 summit, Japan can influence other nations to follow suit and make a meaningful impact on reducing global emissions. As the third-largest economy in the world and Japan’s climate pledges are widely seen as highly insufficient to keep global heating below 1.5 degrees Celsius. That’s why Japan has a crucial role to play in championing the charge for renewable energy to meet decarbonization targets under the Paris Agreement”
Clemence Dubois, 350.org Associate Director of Global Campaigns says,
“Over the last week civil society in over 20 countries have unequivocally expressed the urgency with which they implore the G7 to act on climate change. These actions have demonstrated the resilience and commitment of communities all over the world – many who are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. They have shown that the people are ready to leave fossil fuels behind, and that they expect global leaders to catch up”
Susanne Wong, Oil Change International, Oil Change International Program Director says,
“This year’s G7 is revealing Japan’s failure of climate leadership at a global level. At a time when we rapidly need to phase out fossil fuels, this year’s G7 host is pushing for the expansion of gas and LNG and technologies that would prolong the use of coal. We need Japan to stop prioritizing corporate interests and derailing the transition to clean energy with its dirty energy strategy.”
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