Research Project Overview: Discussing how climate change matters and what should be done in relation to the wider Japanese societal context

Japan's current situation and challenges

Japan's climate change and energy policies lack fundamental discussions about why society as a whole should tackle this issue, with numerical targets (such as achieving carbon neutrality by 2050) and specific measures for GHG reductions taking precedence.

Specifically, Japan has centered its approach on GX (Green Transformation) policies that prioritize industrial competitiveness, without adequately examining climate change's social impacts or its relationships with other societal issues. The GX policy is essentially an industrial policy, with insufficient coordination among policies of other ministries such as the Ministry of the Environment. Past research has also suggested that environmental policy in Japan is structurally weak, tending to favor public spending on “environmentally friendly” technologies rather than strengthening environmental regulation and governance.

Continuing to invest in the present policy, premised on "reducing emissions in alignment with other nations" and prioritizing industrial competitiveness, will lead to multiple problems—all of which have been repeatedly identified so far:

• A policy “leaving all behind” except those with stakes in GX industries
• Lacking an internal compass: Japan will be left without policy if the “alignment” among major nations destabilizes
• Latecomer/follower risk: Low chances of winning the global green competition
• Inefficiency due to lack of integration across sectors, ministries, disciplines, etc.
• Forgoing the opportunity to reassess societal risks/values and capacities to deal with them in face of present circumstances
• Reactive/delayed responses to the side effects of severe GHG reduction measures (widening inequalities, negative impacts on nature, culture, livelihoods, etc.)
• Technology development becoming an end in itself

A point of reference: Major western narratives on climate change

In Western nations and related international communities, diverse narratives have been developed about what problems climate change represent to society and how they should be addressed. Some examples include:

1. A society-wide challenge that transcends "environmental issues" to encompass security, economics, and the overall stability of future society (e.g. discussions on climate security, existential threats, "Fridays for Future”)
2. Stabilizing Earth’s planet-wide systems which support human activities (e.g. Planetary Boundaries)
3. Making climate action compatible with, or a driver for, economic growth (Green Growth, Green Economy, U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, EU Clean Industrial Deal)

For the purposes of this project, the various criticisms that these narratives face are just as important as the narratives themselves. These include neglecting of other social issues, undermining democratic decision-making, and the absence of structural reforms of society.

Objective of the project

This project is an exploratory attempt to consider why and how climate change is a problem, in the context of Japanese society. It aims to gather younger experts in energy and climate fields, to discuss the issue from multiple perspectives. The following outcomes are expected:

• To serve as a catalyst for more comprehensive discussions that reframe climate change within the context of Japan's diverse societal challenges
• Consider Japan's climate change and energy policies from perspectives of social division and exclusion, especially the impacts on vulnerable populations
• Gain insights for improving the effectiveness and long-term stability of Japan's climate change and energy policies

Activities

1.Research workshops

　○ Gather researchers/experts from related fields
　○ Examine diverse themes in omnibus format
　○ Keynote lectures followed by semi-structured discussion
　○ Reports in both Japanese and English

2.Digital outreach (videos and/or pamphlets)

　○ Explain existing debates and perspectives concerning climate change
　○ Introduce the historical context, values, and debates underlying other country's climate change policies
　○ Pose questions to consider in the Japanese context

Main Themes (Tentative)

The main themes for the workshops and outreach activities are tentatively set as follows:

• Issues of expression and language concerning climate change, sustainability and the environment (the issue of “katakana” intake of foreign ideas)
• How structures of knowledge, research, and expertise influence the way we think about and deal with climate change
• Interconnections with gender issues, eco-feminism
• Perceptions of the environment (its values and rights, other ideas from studies of mesology)
• Conceptions of "responsibility"
• Intergenerational ethics and issues related to long-term decision-making
• Structures of Nation and Economy (issues related to financing of public development projects)
• Challenges of certification, credibility and trust (How big will the role of certification bodies be? Who may play that role within Japanese society?)
• Philosophy of climate change in other countries (Europe, U.S., China, Russia, etc.)

Full Text of the Concept Paper ( Japanese )

Discussing how climate change matters and what should be done in relation to the wider Japanese societal context

Links to Related Content

＜＜ To be released as needed ＞＞