Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: Electric Power Development (J-Power) appears to have active engagement on climate and energy policy in Japan. Despite its broadly positive top-line positions, J-Power appears to promote an extended use of coal power in Asia, including Japan and Oceania. It advocates for improvements in the energy efficiency of coal plants, hydrogen produced from coal, and ammonia co-firing with coal. In addition, J-Power retains membership to a number of industry associations that have negative engagement on climate policies.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: J-Power appears to have broadly positive top-line messaging on climate change. In the Message from CEO published in June 2023 on J-Power’s website, it communicates the necessity of responding to climate change. The company also recognizes some of the science of climate change on its website, last accessed in January 2025.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: J-Power appears to have limited engagement with climate-related regulations. In an article in Nikkei Shimbun in June 2024, J-Power CEO communicated the need for carbon pricing equivalent to that of the EU and other developed countries. In its 2024 Integrated Report, J-Power references Japan’s 2050 carbon neutrality target and the 46% GHG emission reduction target for 2030, but with an unclear position on these policies. In its 2023 CDP response, the company stated support for Japan’s feed-in tariff with minor exceptions, requesting more generous subsidies for ‘stable’ renewable energy sources.
Positioning on Energy Transition: J-Power appears to have a negative position on the energy transition. In a May 2023 interview with Nikkei GX, in response to allegations that ammonia co-firing prolongs the life of coal plants, CEO Watanabe responded that “a certain level of thermal power is required.” In another interview in Nikkei GX published in July 2024, CEO Kanno appeared to advocate a continued role for fossil fuels in the energy mix, suggesting that 20-30% of electricity generation will remain as thermal power in 2050. Chairman Hisafumi Watanabe’s message on JCOAL’s website last updated in June 2024, also supports a continued role for coal in the energy mix with ambiguity on whether accompanied by CCS.
J-Power has also been a member of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)’s Power and Gas Project Subcommittee. In a November 2023 meeting, J-Power appeared to support policies and incentives to develop hydrogen/ammonia and CCS in the fossil fuel sector, emphasizing international competition; however, it has not mentioned the specific application of CCS within the fossil fuel value chain, nor has it specified its position on the need for an overall transition away from a fossil fuel-based energy system. More recently, in a March 2024 committee, J-Power appeared to advocate for establishing a baseload ratio under the upcoming 7th Strategic Energy Plan, but has not specifically supported a reduction of coal in line with IPCC.
Industry Association Governance: As of January 2025, J-Power has not disclosed a full list of industry association membership on its website, nor has it published a review of its alignment with industry association on climate policy. In its 2023 CDP submission, J-Power disclosed membership to only one industry association – The Electric Power Council for a Low Carbon Society – along with the association’s climate position and the company’s role in influencing its position. J-Power remains a member of industry associations engaged in negative climate policy engagement, including Japan Carbon Frontier Organisation (JCOAL) and Keidanren. Notably, the Chairman and Representative Director of J-Power, Toshifumi Watanabe is the Chairman of JCOAL which has been negatively engaging with the Japanese and global energy mix.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q1 2025.