Difference Appears Under Japan’s Leadership

Believing its membership in Group of Seven to be diplomatic strength to the world, the Japanese government insists on producing meaningful outcome as the chair in G7 summit meeting in Hiroshima later this month. As far as looking into the agreements in consecutive ministerial meetings, however, Japan seems to be failing in setting ambitious goals, caring about avoiding sharp opposition, or seeking too much its own interests. As its result, fundamental difference in the member countries, namely Japan and Europe, is left behind.

 

In the meeting in Elmau, Germany, last year, G7 ministers on climate, energy and environment agreed on emphasizing the central role of low-carbon and renewable hydrogen and its derivatives such as ammonia for achieving net zero emissions and an energy-secure future. That was only a part of small issues. But ammonia became one of the biggest points this year. Ministers’ communiqué describes that low-carbon and renewable hydrogen and its derivatives such as ammonia should be developed and used where they are impactful as effective emission reduction tools. It notes that “some countries are exploring the use of low-carbon and renewable hydrogen and its derivatives in the power sector to work towards zero-emission thermal power generation if this can be aligned with a 1.5ºC pathway and our collective goal for a fully or predominantly decarbonized power sector by 2035.” This line was added with Japan’s insistent efforts.

 

Still heavily depending its energy on thermal power generation, Japan has been testing co-firing ammonia in coal-fueled power plants as a way to reduce CO₂ emissions power plants, which is also a way to extend the life of coal-fueled power plants in Japan. When Japan tried to emphasize the role of ammonia, other parties opposed including that description in the communiqué. G7 ministers finally agreed on noting that there were some countries testing it. Some newspapers reported that Japan dismissed the request of United Kingdom or other countries to include the targeted year of phasing out coal-firing power generation in the communiqué. Japan is well known as the country consecutively receiving “fossil award” from non-governmental organizations in G7 summit meetings.

 

On nuclear energy, the communiqué says that those countries that opt to use nuclear energy recognize its potential to provide affordable low-carbon energy and commit to maximizing the use of existing reactors safely, securely, and efficiently. The sentence can be used for Kishida administration which tries to extend the life of domestic nuclear reactors by shifting basic principles of 60 years decommissioning. At the mostly same time when Japan was working hard for including the words for survival of nuclear power plants in the communiqué, Germany announced that it finally shut down the last domestic nuclear power plants.

 

At the joint press conference after the ministers’ meeting, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Yasutoshi Nishimura, told that the progress of decommissioning First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, including emission of treated water into the ocean, and Japan’s transparent measures based on scientific evidence will be welcomed. German Environment Minister, Steffi Lemke, immediately responded to Nishimura’s comment, saying that the release of treated water was not welcomed. Nishimura explained that it was a slip of his tongue.

 

Difference is not only appeared in environmental policies, but in digital technology. Although G7 digital and tech ministers agreed on promoting safety and trust of artificial intelligence technologies in the digital and tech ministers’ meeting later April, members’  standpoints on regulating AI technologies were not the same. Following Italy’s blocking of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, European Union considers introducing AI regulation act, based on the concern of breach of privacy or cybersecurity. European nations are relatively serious about regulating generative AI technologies.

 

While Japan is in the position to promote those effort as the chair country of G7, its government is domestically accepting positive role of AI technologies. Kishida Cabinet is considering government adoption of AI such as ChatGPT. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had a meeting with OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, early April and discussed future of AI. METI minister, Nishimura, even mentioned the possibility of AI to discuss in the parliament in charge of ministers, which idea invited the criticism that he looked like neglecting the legislative branch.

 

G7 digital and tech ministers issued the declaration which opposed “the misuse and abuse of AI to undermine democratic values.” It is tested whether the Japanese government will use AI as a tool for governing the people or enhancing people’s freedom or rights. While Kishida hopes to exercise his leadership in coming summit meeting, preparing for an agreement on “the world without nuclear weapons,” it is still unclear whether all the parties get together under Japan’s leadership.