June 24, 2020

Japanese and International Civil Society urge Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho and Sumitomo Mitsui for a Complete Coal Phase-out

109 Groups and 2,470 Individuals Sign Petition

Tokyo, Japan -Nine environmental organizations submitted a petition on 23 June, calling on the Japanese 3 megabank groups – Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group and Mitsui Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, for a complete phase out from coal fired power and the establishment of fossil fuel phase out strategies aligned with the Paris Agreement. 

The petition was submitted in the lead up to the banks’ Annual General Meetings (shareholder meetings), which are being held from the 25 to 29 June.

109 groups and 2,470 individuals from all over the world signed the petition. A full list of groups who endorsed this petition is provided at the bottom of this release. 

The petition called specifically called for the following:

  • As a responsible leader in the financial world, work for the creation of a sustainable society and the development of a fossil fuel phase-out strategy starting with coal, in line with the Paris Agreement.
  • Stop using loopholes to support the export of coal-fired power plants, and change your policies to invest in energy efficiency and decentralized deforestation-free renewable power generation that will support the future benefit of recipient countries.

Takayoshi Yokoyama, Representative of 350.org Japan said:

“3 mega banks that signed onto the UN Principles for Responsible Banking have promised to establish strategies which are aligned with the Paris Agreement. As our economy recovers from the adverse impacts of COVID-19, these banks should take leadership to shift their investments and loans towards a sustainable, decarbonized society. It is my sincere hope that management of the banks will announce strong commitments to strengthen policies to contribute solutions towards the climate crisis.”

Ayumi Fukakusa, Climate and Energy Campaigner of FoE Japan commented:

”The 3 mega banks still keep financing coal fired power projects these years. They are currently deciding whether to finance the Vung Ang 2 coal fired power project in Vietnam. The construction of a new coal-fired power plant not only accelerates climate change, but also brings environmental pollution such as air pollution to the site. In addition, a Korean government think-tank found “negative profitability” for this project. There is no justification for the banks to finance the project.”

Yuki Tanabe, Program Director of Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society added:

“The policies of these 3 mega banks fail to stop the Vung Ang 2 coal-fired power project which is expected to be the last coal deal for the Japanese banks, and do not have an actual meaning. In addition, while overseas banks have established policies to regulate financing for coal developers, the scope of Japanese banks’ policies are still limited to coal projects, thus their policies should be improved.”

Yann Lauvel, Political Analyst at Reclaim Finance said

“It is now time for Japanese banks to completely stop the direct financing of new coal plants globally, with no exceptions, and move to the next stage of what a bank coal policy must address: corporate finance. Big Japanese banks must follow many of their European peers and exclude coal companies from their activities, starting with coal developers, those companies still planning to expand the coal industry despite the climate and health emergencies we now face, more than ever.”

END

 

Additional Information

  • Organizing Groups:
    350.org Japan
    Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES)
    Fair Finance Guide Japan
    Kiko Network
    Friends of the Earth Japan
    Mekong Watch
    Greenpeace Japan
    Rainforest Action Network
    Reclaim Finance

 

  • Groups that Signed:
    Japan
    350.org Japan
    Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society (JACSES)
    Fair Finance Guide Japan
    Kiko Network
    Friends of the Earth Japan
    Mekong Watch
    Greenpeace Japan
    350 Tokyo
    APLA (Alternative People’s Linkage in Asia)
    CED of Okinawa
    Citizens for Climate Japan
    Climate Action Network Japan (CAN-Japan)
    DIVEST SHIBUYA!
    Fridays For Future Chiba
    Fridays For Future Dazaifu
    Fridays for Future Fukuoka
    Fridays for Future Hiroshima
    Fridays For Future KAGOSHIMA
    Fridays For Future Kanazawa
    Fridays for Future Kobe
    Fridays for Future Kyoto
    Fridays For Future Nasu
    Fridays For Future Osaka
    Fridays For Future Saitama
    Fridays For Future Sendai
    Fridays For Future Shinshu
    Fridays For Future Shizuoka
    Fridays For Future Tokyo
    Fridays For Future Yokosuka
    GreensJapan
    imageMILL
    International Resources and Energies Student Association (IRESA)
    Japan Association of Environment and Society for the 21st century(JAES21))
    Japan Refashion association
    Kurasute
    Mamademo
    NLS
    NoNukes!
    NPO People’s power network
    NPO Seven Generations
    Nuclear-free Japan
    Protect Our Winters Japan
    SEVEN GANALATIONS
    spiral club
    Suginami Seikatsusha Network
    Transition Japan
    Ueda Citizens’ Energy
    YokosukaKaryokuHatsudenshoWoKangaeruKai

Australia
350 Australia
Australian Conservation Foundation
Bench
The Sunrise Project

Bangladesh
Bangladesh Krishok Federation

Bosnia Herzegovina
Center for Environment/ Friends of the Earth Bosnia and Herzegovina

Brazil
350 Latin America

China
350 HK

Colombia
CENSAT Friends of the earth Colombia

Finland
EKOenergy ecolabel

France
Friends of the Earth France
Reclaim Finance

Germany
Urgewald

Ghana
Abibiman Foundation
AbibiNsroma Foundation (ANF)
Alliance for Empowering Rural Communities (AERC-Ghana)

India
Growthwatch

Indonesia
350.org Indonesia
Ecological Action & People Emancipation
WALHI West Java ( Friends of The Earth – Indonesia )

South Korea
Green Environment Youth Korea

Malaysia
Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific
Friends of the Earth Malaysia

Mongolia
Oyu Tolgoi Watch NGO
Rivers without Boundaries Coalition

Morocco
Arab Watch Coalition

Nepal
Youth For Environment Education And Development Foundation (YFEED Foundation)

Netherlands
BankTrack
Both ENDS
Fair Finance International

Philippines
350 Pilipinas
Center for Environmental Concerns – Philippines
Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE)
LRC-KsK Friends of the Earth Philippines
NGO Forum on ADB

Poland
Foundation “Development YES – Open-Pit Mines NO”

Singapore
SG Climate Rally

South Africa
Fund Our Future

Sri Lanka
Centre for Environmental Justice

Switzerland
Fossil-free.ch Switzerland
Future instead of Coal Switzerland

Taiwan
350 Taiwan
Air Clean Taiwan
Mom Loves Taiwan Association

Thailand
Greenpeace Southeast Asia

United Kingdom
Christian Aid
Global Witness
Walks of Life Films

United States
All Ages Productions
Bucks Environmental Action
Mighty Earth
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Oil Change International
Rainforest Action Network
Thisorientation

Vietnam
Green Innovation and Development Centre

Other
350 Asia
350 Europe
350.org
Break Free from Plastic (BFFP)
Market Forces

 

For more information, contact:
Patricia Mallam
Senior Communications Specialist, Asia & Pacific Region
E: [email protected]
M: +679 9962972
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