--- title: "Japan's new energy policy package fails to resolve climate and energy crisis" date: 2026-08-26T09:52:58Z modified: 2026-08-26T09:52:58Z permalink: "https://350.org/press-release/japans-new-energy-policy-package-fails-to-resolve-climate-and-energy-crisis/" type: press-release status: publish excerpt: "" wpid: 175531744 categories: - Asia - Featured - Press Release author: ilang-ilangquijano timestamp: 2026-08-26T09:52:58Z tags: - Asia - Featured - Press Release --- Today, the Japanese government announced “_POWERR GX: Policy Package for Wide Energy and Resources Resilience through GX,_” or policy measures aimed at addressing the energy crisis triggered by the US-Iran war. Climate group [350.org](http://350.org/) Japan points out that the [package](https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/gx_jikkou_kaigi/dai17/shiryo1.pdf) is “extremely problematic” and fails to resolve both the climate and energy crisis. Instead, it diverts public attention away from genuine solutions while aggravating fossil fuel dependence. Included in the package is the Japanese government’s support for the construction of [new oil pipelines](https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGKKZO98384840W6A820C2MM8000/) in the Middle East, which would bypass the Strait of Hormuz. **Masayoshi Iyoda,** [**350.org**](http://350.org/) **Japan Campaigner, said:** _“This new energy policy package, far from resolving the energy and climate crises, plunges Japanese citizens and the world into further risk. If constructed, these new oil pipelines would be built at massive costs to the Japanese public under a prolonged timeline, making it incapable of addressing the immediate energy crisis. By locking in new fossil fuel infrastructure, the government is ensuring decades of dependence on fossil fuels and higher greenhouse gas emissions._ _This clearly hinders the achievement of the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target and pours cold water on the global momentum toward transitioning away from fossil fuels. In light of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on climate change, support for such fossil fuel infrastructure could also constitute an illegal act under international law. The expansion of gas-fired power generation, hydrogen and ammonia mentioned in the plan is also concerning.”_ In line with its existing nuclear expansion policy, the Japanese government also plans to rebuild several nuclear reactors. _“Nuclear power comes with extremely high costs and risk of catastrophic disaster, compared to energy efficiency and renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. And because it takes time to build, nuclear expansion will be unable to address the ongoing energy crisis,”_ Iyoda added. 350.org’s [analysis](https://350.org/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/press-release/new-analysis-hormuz-crisis-escalation-to-cost-japanese-people-over-c2a57-trillion.md) reveals that the surge in oil and gas prices sparked by the war in Iran in February 2026 forced Japanese citizens to bear an additional burden of $18.75 billion by July this year. If escalations continue, the burden could exceed ¥7 trillion by the end of 2026. Fossil fuel corporations are posting record windfall profits, while rising costs for energy and food are making it harder for people to survive. _“Prime Minister Takaichi has boasted that measures taken by the Cabinet have made gasoline prices in Japan the cheapest in the world, including the US and Europe. However, this price gap is subsidized by taxpayers’ money – citizens are still carrying the financial burden of elevated prices. The energy crisis should be an opportunity for Japan to break free from fossil fuel price volatility and reliance on foreign imports. Instead, the government has let the public shoulder the cost of fossil fuels and then touted it as an achievement. This is nothing less than dishonest. To help the Japanese people suffering from high oil and gas prices, we need the government to reduce dependency on foreign fossil energy resources for good. This can be done by supporting energy efficiency and electrification powered by renewables – not new pipelines. The current 7th Strategic Energy Plan has failed to address the energy crisis. The government needs genuinely new policies toward phasing out fossil fuels and achieving 100% renewable energy,”_ Iyoda ended. **Media Contact:** Ilang-Ilang Quijano, [350.org](http://350.org/) Media Campaigner, , +639175810934