Civil Society Organizations at COP29 call on Australia, Japan, and South Korea to Stop Their Fossil Fuel Cooperation

Civil Society Organizations at COP29 call on Australia, Japan, and South Korea to Stop Their Fossil Fuel Cooperation

November 15, Baku, Azerbaijan — A multinational coalition of Civil Society voices led by Friends of the Earth Japan, Solutions for Climate Australia, Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development, 350.org Japan and Don’t Gas Asia held a demonstration at the COP29 conference venue to demand Australia, Japan, and South Korea stop supporting the expansion of fossil gas infrastructure. The action featured activists holding signs with slogans calling for #NoMorePublicMoneyForFossilGas and #SayonaraFossilFuels, as well as an activist wearing an inflatable Pikachu costume. The action also featured powerful stories of First Nations resistance to fossil gas extraction in Australia. 

South Korea and Japan are the second and third largest providers of public finance for fossil fuels, having spent approximately USD 10 billion and 7 billion respectively on new oil, gas, and coal projects each year on average from 2020 to 2022. The countries continue to channel billions into fossil fuel projects abroad, supporting fossil gas extraction projects in Australia, such as the Barossa and Scarborough gas carbon bombs, and Mozambique, such as the Mozambique LNG project.

Despite an expected LNG glut and projections from the International Energy Agency that demand for LNG will drastically drop in the following decades as countries uphold their climate commitments, both Japan and South Korea have been justifying their dirty investment activities under the guise of energy security. Yet recent explosive research has found that Japan, already facing declining domestic demand, has been on-selling imported fossil gas to other countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. 

To sustain its reselling activities, Japan has invested heavily in manufacturing demand for fossil gas in South and Southeast Asia by sinking investments into import infrastructure; providing ‘technical support’ to the drafting of energy policies; and pushing technologies that prolong the lifespan of these gas projects. Both Japan and South Korea are major proponents of technologies such as carbon dumping (otherwise known as Carbon Capture and Storage, or CCS) and hydrogen co-firing. These expensive and experimental technologies will further lock in fossil fuels in the region for decades to come.

In turn, Australia has been using Japanese and South Korean demand as an excuse for its own relentless expansion and export of fossil gas, claiming that it ‘keeps the lights on in Tokyo.’ Far from meeting Asia’s energy needs, Australia’s gas expansion is violating the rights of First Nations communities, exacerbating the climate crisis and leading to devastating impacts for communities and ecosystems in Australia and around the world. Australia is currently ranked the second largest LNG exporter globally, with the vast majority of Australian fossil gas being received by Japan, South Korea, and China

A recent study revealed that exported LNG emits more greenhouse gas emissions than coal, despite the gas industry and investing countries touting it as a better alternative or a transition fuel. LNG has a greenhouse gas footprint that is larger than any other fossil fuel, its industry destroys ecosystems and is riddled with human rights issues. LNG is not a climate solution and should not be playing a major part of Asia’s critical energy transition.

Quotes: 

Sharif Jamil, Coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD):

“As Asia faces an increasingly perilous path toward climate collapse, the decisions made now will send ripples through future generations. What we need are ambitious commitments for climate action, not lackluster pledges by countries like Japan, South Korea, and Australia. It is essential for these countries to heed scientific evidence and not be beholden to fossil fuel interests. Developed countries must recognize their responsibility in contributing to the climate crisis and stop worsening the situation by promoting fossil gas and false solutions. Japan, South Korea, and Australia must stop dragging Asia into deeper fossil fuel dependency and help lead the region toward a future powered by renewable energy.” 

Erin Ryan, Senior International Campaigner, Solutions for Climate Australia: 

“First Nations Australians have been custodians of their country for millennia, and have been defending it from destructive fossil gas extraction for decades. Yet, fuelled by finance and faux demand from Japan and South Korea, Australia continues to expand and export polluting fossil gas to Asia. This trilateral cooperation serves corporations over communities, and is derailing the energy transition in our region. It’s well past time for these players to shift from gas to green exports, and say sayonara to fossil fuels.”

Hiroki Osada, Campaigner, FoE Japan: 

“With Trump back in office, Japan’s responsibility is greater than ever to lead global decarbonization efforts, provide climate financing, and end fossil fuel funding. Yet, Japan continues to finance fossil fuels in Asia and beyond on a massive scale. JBIC, Japan’s public finance institution, has provided a staggering $18.6 billion USD to fossil gas projects since 2016. Japan must end fossil fuel financing; this is an indispensable step toward aligning its financial practices with climate goals.”

Masayoshi Iyoda, Japan Campaigner, 350.org:

“The Japanese government faces people’s demands for a fossil fuel phaseout, a just transition to 100% renewables, and an ambitious climate finance agreement at COP29. Japan’s contribution to climate finance must reflect its responsibility for the climate crisis as among the world’s top fossil fuel investors. But instead of divesting from fossil fuels, Japan is still notoriously financing false solutions such as fossil gas, carbon capture and storage, and ammonia co-firing with coal, as well as harmful nuclear energy, under the name of Japan’s Green Transformation (GX) policy. Japan must enhance its financial contribution for people-centered climate solutions, that is community-led renewables, rather than dangerous distractions peddled by the fossil and nuclear industries.”