July 14, 2021
In October 2021, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will integrally host the following conferences, which are collectively called “Tokyo ‘Beyond-Zero’ Week.”
- First Asia Green Growth Partnership Ministerial Meeting: October 4
- Third International Conference on Carbon Recycling: October 4
- Fourth Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting: October 4
- Tenth LNG Producer-Consumer Conference: October 5
- Third Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Summit: October 5
- First International Conference on Fuel Ammonia: October 6
- Eighth Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF): October 6 and 7
- Third Research and Development 20 for Clean Energy Technologies (RD20) (Leader’s Session): October 8
In October 2020, Prime Minister Suga declared the goal of realizing a carbon-neutral, decarbonized society by 2050. In order to achieve this goal, Japan will lead the decarbonization globally by establishing innovative technologies and mobilizing all possible measures, which allow the “Beyond Zero” initiative which is an approach which not only allows carbon neutral efforts to become possible worldwide but also retroactively reduces CO2 emissions in accordance with the stock base approach, and social implementation thereof.
The world is facing an urgent need to address climate change. In order to achieve global carbon neutrality, it is essential that not only developed economies including Japan but also emerging economies tackle the challenge together. On the other hand, the economic and geographical circumstances of each country are different, and in order to promote effective emission reduction, it is essential to accelerate the “transitions” by utilizing a wide range of technologies and energy sources, rather than a uniform approach, based on these diverse realities. In addition to transitions along these various paths, it is a common challenge for all countries to create innovative innovations that are not extensions of existing technologies, and to link them to new growth opportunities through the realization of a “virtuous cycle of economy and environment”. With this in mind, Japan formulated the “Environment Innovation Strategy” in January 2020, which aims to lead the world and also actively has been engaging in international collaboration.
As part of these efforts, METI will hold the “Tokyo Beyond Zero Week 2021,” a series of international conferences on energy and the environment aimed at achieving carbon neutrality and the “Beyond Zero” initiative. These conferences will bring together such a wide variety of stakeholders including government officials, representatives of international organizations and research institutes from around the world, and hold wide-ranging discussions on individual challenges toward the realization of the “Beyond Zero” approach, as well as paths and methods for realizing these challenges in society, and disseminate to the world realistic and concrete paths and pictures for realizing a “virtuous cycle of economy and environment”. With cross-sectoral discussions on green growth in Asia, Japan will share its technological expertise with other countries in priority fields such as hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon recycling, in which Japan is leading the world. We will contribute to achieving carbon neutrality throughout the world as a platform for leading international discussions and cooperation.
(1) First Asia Green Growth Partnership Ministerial Meeting
Date: October 4 (Mon.)
Event format: Hybrid meeting (On site in Tokyo + Online)
Outline: In order to achieve economic growth and carbon neutrality at the same time in emerging economies such as those in Asia, it is necessary to make diverse and realistic energy transitions that take into account the circumstances of each country and utilize all energy sources and technologies. The meeting will be hosted by Japan. This is the first meeting to be hosted by Japan.
(2) Third International Conference on Carbon Recycling
Date: October 4 (Mon.)
Event format: Hybrid meeting (On site in Tokyo + Online) Live streaming will be available.
Co-organizer: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
Outline: At this Conference, we will disseminate the progress of Japan’s efforts on Carbon Recycling, which is a key technology for realizing carbon neutrality in the world, and gather the wisdom of industry, academia, and government from all over the world so that we will have lively discussions to share the latest knowledge and implement it in society. Through this, we aim to further strengthen international cooperation and accelerate technological development for future social implementation.
(3) Fourth Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting
Date: October 4 (Mon.)
Event format: Hybrid meeting (On site in Tokyo + Online) Live streaming will be available.
Co-organizer: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
Outline: The Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting was held for the first time in Japan in 2018 as an opportunity for member countries to encourage countries worldwide to promote global-level utilization of hydrogen and to further consolidate collaboration among member countries in a harmonious manner. This year, the conference will provide an opportunity for participants to share efforts for producing and utilizing hydrogen in member countries, aiming to continue to maintain and expand the global momentum for building a hydrogen-based society. Participants will strive to further strengthen international collaboration.
(4)Tenth LNG Producer-Consumer Conference
Date: October 5 (Tue.)
Event format: Online. Live streaming will be available.
Co-organizer: the Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC)
Outline: LNG Producer-Consumer Conference marks its 10th anniversary, which has been held as a platform for cooperation between producing and consuming countries to share the long-term supply and demand outlook for LNG and to make the market more transparent. This year, we plan to deepen the discussion on the role and expectations of LNG, which has supported stable energy supply and sustainable growth in Japan and the world, in the next decade amid the global trend toward decarbonization.
(5) Third Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Summit
Date: October 5 (Tue.)
Event format: Hybrid meeting (On site in Tokyo + Online) Live streaming will be available.
Co-organizer: TCFD Consortium, The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Outline: In order to promote climate change measures, finance will become even more important. Furthermore, the movement to make the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), which was established with support from the G20, mandatory as a framework for information disclosure related to climate change is expanding globally.
Hosted by METI, the TCFD Summit 2021 will be held online on October 5. At this summit, we will further promote the more decision-useful TCFD disclosures for investors, by holding discussions with guest speakers who have advanced initiatives in the world’s industrial and financial circles. In addition, it is important to promote green economic activities more and more, and at the same time, to form a flow of funding for the transition. By a discussion on how to disclose information on these transitions, METI aims to create international momentum that companies will disclose their efforts by taking climate change as an opportunity, and finance will accelerate efforts toward the realization of carbon neutrality by such companies.
(6) First International Conference on Fuel Ammonia
Date: October 6 (Wed.)
Event format: Online. Live streaming will be available.
Co-organizer: Clean Fuel Ammonia Association (CFAA)
Outline: In order to establish a stable, low-cost and flexible supply chain and market for fuel ammonia as zero emission fuel, International Conference on Fuel Ammonia will be held with related countries, companies and organizations to build a foundation for international collaboration among parties concerned that transcends national boundaries. At the conference, we will discuss the direction of efforts to further enhance international recognition of fuel ammonia and expand supply and demand.
(7) Eighth Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF)
Date: October 6 and 7 (Wed. and Thur.)
Event format: Hybrid meeting (On site in Tokyo + Online). Live streaming will be available.
Co-organizer: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
Outline: Hosted by the Government of Japan, Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF) is an annual gathering of leading international stakeholders tackling climate change. ICEF’s mission is to nurture discussion and collaboration among participants, and to disseminate innovations in energy and environmental technology to participants and beyond. ICEF features a plenary session for broad-ranging discussions as well as concurrent sessions where smaller groups of experts discuss specific technical areas in more detail. This year ICEF is going to further deepen its discussion on actions by various types of stakeholders and in major technical fields to show the pathways to carbon neutrality.
(8) Third Research and Development 20 for Clean Energy Technologies (RD20) (Leader’s Session)
Date: October 8 (Fri.)
Event format: Hybrid meeting (On site in Tokyo + Online). Live streaming will be available.
Organizer: The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Outline: Research and Development 20 for Clean Energy Technologies (RD20) is an annual gathering of the heads of leading R&D institutes from G20 nations. Hosted by Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), representatives discuss ways to strengthen alliances between research institutes and promote joint R&D projects with the goal of generating innovations in clean energy technologies toward carbon neutrality. This year’s RD20 will include Leaders session featuring high-level discussion by leaders from national research institutes about global collaboration to realize a low-carbon society. Prior to this, Technical Sessions will be held with the themes of decarbonization by sectors, social acceptance of hydrogen, and energy management system from Sept. 29th to Oct. 1st.
