Green groups in Asia rally for Japan to quit coal

(Eco Business, 28 Jun 2019) As the host of the G20 summit to be held in Osaka this week, Japan is under fire to show ‘climate leadership’ by shaking itself free from coal. Its banks are among the world’s biggest financiers of the fossil fuel.

Climate justice organisations around Asia have called on Japan to stop funding coal, as the leaders of the world’s largest economies head to the East Asian country for the Group of 20 (G20) summit.

Japan is hosting the G20 summit for the first time, and governments are convening in Osaka to take collective action against global economic uncertainties. 

Activists have accused Japanese banks of being one of the largest financiers of foreign coal development in the world, despite Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stating in January that climate action would be at the top of the summit’s agenda.

“People are watching how Japan will use its [G20] presidency to advance climate talks. Time is of the essence if we are to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius,” said Chuck Baclagon, campaigner for climate advocacy organisation 350.org, one of the 50 civil society groups that make up the Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), that is leading the protests around Asia.

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Eco Business, 28 Jun 2019: Green groups in Asia rally for Japan to quit coal