Environmental and human rights groups gathered in front of the Ministry of Finance in Tokyo on Thursday (May 19), demanding that Japan stop investing in fossil fuels industries.
The protest takes place a day before Group of Seven (G7) meetings of finance ministers and central bankers in Sendai from May 20-21.
Fifteen demonstrators from Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam demanded that the G7 finance meeting will discuss stopping investment of future fossil fuel and nuclear projects, and protect the rights of workers.
“Last year, Japan signed the Paris Agreement. So I want to send a message that Japan should stop investing in fossil fuels (industries) immediately,” said Shin Furuno, representative of 350 Japan, one of the environmental groups that organized the protest.
Protesters handed out packets of coal outside the ministry as government officials went to work. Some wore masks of Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso and head bands bearing the names of Japanese banks that invest in fossil fuels.
“They (Japan) are also leading the G7 this year, so they have a responsibility to take bold action against climate change. The world is following through, but Japan is not. So this is a great opportunity for Japan to show the world they are with the rest of the world in combating climate change,” Ian Shimizu-Pughe, field organizer of 350 Japan, said.
Japan increased fossil fuel consumption since 2011, when the Fukushima disaster shut down all nuclear plants in its aftermath.
Many industry analysts see natural gas and renewables as the biggest growth sectors in energy, yet most Asian countries including Japan are still expanding coal faster than gas.
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016
