Outreach Events
21th September 2023: Zoom In! Japanese-German Energy Transition Talks | Nexus of Circular Economy, Resource Efficiency and Climate Protection
10:00-11:00 CEST (17:00-18:00 JST), online
The second session of the webinar series “Zoom In!” focused on the Nexus of Circular Economy, Resource Efficiency and Climate Protection.
Chika Aoki-Suzuki, Senior Researcher, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), and Peter Hennicke, Principle Advisor to the German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC), presented the different approaches to Circular Economy and lessons learnt in both countries. Main focus of the discussion was on the scenario-based need and usefulness of Policy Integration between Circular Economy and Climate Protection to achieve national climate change mitigation goals. The participants engaged with a row of questions including on CE policies on national and international level, eco design, and best practice examples.
“Zoom In! – Japanese-German Energy Transition Talks” is a series jointly organized by the Japanese-German Energy Partnership Team and the German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC). It focuses on current developments regarding the energy transition in both countries. Each session zooms in on a specific topic and offers decision-makers from policy, industry and research a platform for in-depth information and discussion on the current status, development and potential for different energy transition policies and technologies in Germany and Japan.
Presentations
„Latest trends of policy and business for circular economy in Japan“, Chika Aoiki-Suzuki, The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan
„Circular Economy, Resource Efficiency and Climate Protection in Germany“, Peter Hennicke, Franziska Erbe, Wuppertal Institut
Recording of the Webinar:
Please note: by viewing the video in Youtube you agree to Google’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
6th July 2023: Zoom In! Japanese-German Energy Transition Talks | Carbon Pricing
17:00 – 18:00 JST / 10:00 – 11:00 CET, Video Conference via Zoom, Language English-Japanese (Simultaneous Translation)
We are delighted to introduce to you our new dialogue series „Zoom In! – Japanese-German Energy Transition Talks“. The new series is jointly organized by the Japanese-German Energy Partnership Team – including the OAV, adelphi, and the AHK Japan – and the German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC). The first session delves into the topic of Carbon Pricing and the different approaches and lessons learnt so far. Germany launched its national ETS, complementary to emissions not covered by the EU ETS, for heating and transport fuels already in 2021. With the introduction of the ETS, a wide range of sectors in Germany are now subject to a carbon price. In February, the Japanese government announced the upcoming Green Transformation (GX) League, a baseline-and-credit system for companies expected to become fully operational from April 2023. Moreover, in February 2023, the Cabinet passed the basic GX plan, a 10-year roadmap which includes initial arrangements for a mandatory
national ETS from 2026. The expert speakers in this webinar will be Theresa Wildgrube (adelphi) and Dr. Naoki Matsuo (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies) who will
provide insights on carbon pricing in Germany/Europe and Japan, respectively.
The full agenda can be found here: Agenda Zoom-In! Japanese-German Energy Transition Talks
9th December 2022 (online): „Connecting the Outcome of COP 27 with German-Japanese Cooperation on the Energy Transition“
8:30 – 10:00 CET / 16:30 -18:00 JST
While Russia’s war against Ukraine is still going on, the international community convened in Sharm el-Sheikh for the COP 27 to discuss yet another global crisis: How to ensure full implementation of the Paris Agreement, namely reaching the 1.5°C target? Especially industrialized countries such as Germany and Japan need to implement measures to reduce their Greenhouse Gas emissions significantly, while also taking over responsibility for the damage they have already caused to the global climate decades ago and hereby particularly damaging the global South.
From a German-Japanese perspective, the outreach event on December 9 brought light on the outcomes of the COP 27 with a focus on the question of whether substantial contributions for accelerated action that would also aim at a just transition worldwide have been agreed on. It further discussed how cooperation between Germany and Japan can foster/stimulate accelerated international efforts on climate change mitigation.
Presentations
„COP27 and beyond“, Takahiko Tagami, The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan
„Insights from COP27“, Wolfgang Obergassel, Wuppertal Institute
Recording of the Outreach:
Please note: by viewing the video in Youtube you agree to Google’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
9th November 2022: „Approaching carbon neutrality in times of crisis“
German-Japanese study results on the role of decentralized electricity storage, the decarbonization of the steel industry and long-term scenarios (update)
Japan and Germany both have set ambitious targets to become carbon neutral. To meet these targets while also ensuring the energy security supply, quick and thoughtful decisions are necessary more than before the war of Russia against Ukraine. Against this background, the German-Japanese dialogue on energy transition plays a particular significant role. Since its foundation in 2016, the German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC) has been working on strategic and systemic analysis to develop policy advice for new and long-term perspectives on the way to an ambitious energy transition.
The outreach event outlined the main results of three studies that discuss (1) the role of distributed electricity storage for grid balancing, (2) the potential for decarbonization in the steel sector and (3) an update on long-term scenarios to reach carbon neutrality in Germany and Japan in light of the current energy crisis. The presentations were followed by a discussion on how both countries aim to ensure energy security while meeting their climate policy commitments.
Summary of GJETC Outreach Event
Presentations Download
- Presentation of Results from the Studies conducted in 2021/2022
The Role of Batteries towards Carbon Neutrality – Stefan Thomas (Wuppertal Institute) and Toshiya Okamura (Institute of Energy Economics Japan)
Potential Roadmaps for Decarbonization of the Steel Sector – Yoshikazu Kobayashi (Institute of Energy Economics Japan)
Update on the Comparative Analysis of Long-Term Scenarios discussing Decarbonization Strategies in Japan and Germany in Times of Change – Lotte Nawothnig (Wuppertal Institute) and Hideaki Obane (Institute of Energy Economics Japan) - Implications of the War in Ukraine for the German / EU and Japanese Energy Security and Climate Strategy
Current Japanese Policy & Outlook after Ukraine War – Prof. Tatsuya Terazawa (Co-Chair of GJETC)
German/EU Policy & Outlook after Ukraine War – Prof. Peter Hennicke (Co-Chair of GJETC)
Short comments – Dr. Felix Matthes (GJETC Council Member)
Recording of the Outreach:
Please note: by viewing the video in Youtube you agree to Google’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
25th November 2021: „Heading for carbon neutrality: Key strategies for Germany and Japan“
The challenges posed by the increasing global climate crisis call for more substantial actions to reach climate neutrality. An acceleration of energy transition and socio-ecological transformation are indispensable. At COP 26 in Glasgow, both Germany and Japan presented their specific ambitious targets and roadmaps. Against this backdrop, the German-Japanese Energy Transition Council presented key approaches found in recent long-term scenario studies on how to reach carbon neutrality until 2045 (Germany) or 2050 (Japan) in the online Outreach Event “Heading for carbon neutrality: Key strategies for Germany and Japan” on Thursday, 25th November 2021, 8:30-10:00h CET / 16:30-18:00h JST. In the last Council Meeting in September 2021, the GJETC members agreed on the processing of a new comparative study on long-term scenarios assessing the different strategies and approaches of reaching carbon neutrality by 2045/50; it will be finalized until February 2022. This Outreach Event presented first results and discussed key strategies of Germany and Japan covered by most recent long-term scenarios, demonstrating the variety of strategic approaches in achieving climate neutrality and discussing possible conclusions in the light of the outcomes of COP26.
Recording of the Outreach:
Please note: by viewing the video in Youtube you agree to Google’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
2nd July 2021: „Steps towards Carbon Neutrality: German-Japanese study results on digitalization of grids, CCUS, hydrogen, and energy and climate policy in the post COVID-19 era“
The COVID-19 pandemic reminded the world community that global threats must be dealt with on a global level, rendering international cooperation indispensable. This holds especially true for the ongoing climate crisis threatening the lives of future generations. To meet the targets proclaimed in the Paris Agreement, joint efforts fostering energy transitions and other climate policies worldwide are needed.
Considering the commitment of both Japan and Germany to reach carbon neutrality until 2050, urgent measures to realize intermediate ambitious goals up to 2030 and 2040 are necessary. The recovery programs from Covid-19 can bring a decisive push towards the CO2 reduction targets. Against this background, the German-Japanese dialogue on energy transition plays a particular significant role. At the outreach event three recent studies that deal with key questions for the energy transition in both countries were presented: How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data be utilized to optimize power grid operation? To what extend can Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) and Hydrogen contribute to the decarbonization of energy-intensive industries? And which impact of COVID-19 can be observed on energy consumption, social behaviour and climate policy? From these studies, the GJETC has also derived recommendations for policymakers in Germany and Japan.
Also new study topics for the 3rd phase of the GJETC will were presented. Amongst others, the Council will gave an update on Germany’s / Japan’s climate strategy and its implications and discussed possible pathways and solutions for carbon neutrality in both countries.
Further Outreach Events: