"Structural changes in the recent years have been seen in the international energy market with respect to areas such as demand (consumption), supply (production), and resource selection. As for resource selection in particular, based on the fact that production and usage on energy account for about two-thirds of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the transition to cleaner energy resources such as renewable energy is accelerating. In addition, since the Paris Agreement on climate change was adopted, companies have made their efforts to further advance toward low-carbonization. On the other hand, there are concerns over future energy security related to the complexity of energy policy, and geopolitical events affect stable supply and price spikes. Furthermore, disparity in energy access is increasing and challenges in addressing energy poverty is not limited to developing countries.

In case of Japan, since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, the percentage of fossil fuels has reached about 90% of the country's power generation in 2012, up from about 60% before the earthquake. Japan relies on imports from overseas for almost all of its oil, natural gas, coal and other energy resources, and its primary energy self-sufficiency ratio remains at a low level as about 12%, compared to other OECD countries. Securing a stable supply of energy is critically important for Japan. Against this backdrop and as a response to climate change for the survival of the planet, Japan adopted Long-term Strategy “Net-zero by 2050” aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 46% in the fiscal year 2030 from its fiscal year 2013 levels.
 Prime Minister Kishida declared Japan’s commitment in leading the way in the clean energy transition, introducing renewable energy as much as possible for the decarbonized society in his speech at COP26 World Leaders held in last November.

Following the successful seminar organized by the Club of Lisbon in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan last year, the theme of this seminar is "Powering the World, while preserving the Planet". UN Secretary-General António Guterres said ‘Access to clean, renewable energy is, quite simply, the difference between life and death’ in his opening remarks to High-level Dialogue on Energy, the first summit-level meeting on energy held under the auspices of the UN General Assembly in 40 years. This is truly an urgent issue that the world and Japan have no time lose. In this seminar, experts from different countries, organizations and generations will participate to discuss this issue and bring various perspectives. I believe that this seminar contributes to deepen our understanding and further increase the momentum to address the issue."

USHIO Shigeru
Ambassador of Japan

Detailed information about the Conference can be found here.   

Register to attend the conference in person at the EMSA auditorium, here.

Register to attend the conference online via ZOOM, here.