Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: Japanese Shipowners' Association (JSA) appears to have mixed to negative engagement with climate and energy related policies in 2020-22. While it announced a commitment towards Net Zero GHG emissions by 2050, it appears to have advocated against the inclusion of shipping in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: JSA appears to have positive top-line messaging on climate change. In its column published in October 2021, it appears to acknowledge the casual relationship between human activity, climate change and climate induced weather phenomena. In an October 2021 press conference, JSA has announced its commitment towards Net Zero GHG emissions by 2050. It also appeared generally supportive of government climate regulation on shipping in an October 2021 opinion website comment. However, more negatively, in a 2021 EU consultation response, JSA appeared to use its support of global International Maritime Organization shipping climate regulations to oppose EU policy for the sector.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: The Japanese Shipowners Association appears to have mixed to negative engagement with climate-related regulations. In multiple EU consultation responses in November 2020, February 2021 and October 2021, the JSA appeared to oppose the EU ETS to be extended to the maritime sector. In its column published in October 2021, it appears to support carbon tax and emissions trading in order to accelerate efforts to achieve net zero emissions. However, in another column published in October 2021, it appeared to emphasize concerns around emissions trading schemes.
Positioning on Energy Transition: JSA appears to have mixed positions on the energy transition. In April 2020, through its position statement on its website, JSA appear to promote the long-term role of LNG in shipping without placing clear conditions on the deployment of CCS or methane abatement methods. In addition, in its demand paper on the 2020 tax reform plan published on its website, JSA appears to strongly oppose policies which aid the decarbonization of the economy including a fossil fuel tax, requesting an exemption from it for the Japanese shipping industry. Moreover, in the “Challenge towards GHG Net Zero” document published in October 2021, JSA showed mixed positions on the energy transition, and emphasizing the use of not-yet-commercialized technologies such as hydrogen, ammonia and carbon recycle methane alongside LNG.
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 Q4 2022.