Climate Lobbying Overview: The Japan Society of Industrial Machinery Manufacturers (JSIM) appears to have limited and mixed engagement with climate-related policy. The association generally supported emissions reductions in its top-line messaging, however it opposes carbon taxes and has expressed mixed positions on transitioning the energy mix.

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: JSIM appears broadly supportive of responding to climate change and the UN Climate Treaty in its top-line messaging, with some positive messaging around climate-related regulations. In JSIM’s January 2022 journal issue, the Chairman of the JSIM policy committee stated that he was “determined to take on the challenge of ‘decarbonization’ with a view to becoming ‘carbon neutral by 2050,’” and the July 2022 issue also appeared to support the Japanese government’s 2050 goal. In addition, JSIM’s January 2022 journal issue appeared to support the UN Climate Treaty.

JSIM takes mixed positions on the need for climate change regulation. In a policy paper published on its website in November 2021, it requested examinations of the cost impacts of carbon pricing and clarification on initiatives and costs with regards to the Japanese government’s Global Warming Countermeasures Plan. In a position paper on the 2022 tax reform, published on JSIM’s website in September 2021, JSIM advocated for tax support to promote investment and encourage R&D for green innovation toward 2050 carbon neutrality.

Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations:JSIM has negative positions on carbon taxes and mixed positions on energy efficiency. It has disclosed its positions on some climate change policies on its website, but without detail on activities undertaken to influence these policies. In its position paper on the 2022 tax reform, published on its website in September 2021, JSIM opposed the Global Warming Countermeasure Tax, calling for its abolition, and opposed the expanded use of taxes such as “large-scale carbon taxes” and “local warming countermeasures,” citing an increased burden on companies. In policy recommendations published on its website in May 2022, JSIM also requested tax incentives and support for energy conservation investments, and it made similar requests in a policy paper in November 2021. In the latter, JSIM also requested clarification on initiatives and costs “while work is underway to revise the Energy Conservation Law,” but did not specify a position on the policy.

Positioning on Energy Transition: JSIM appears to have not fully supported transitioning the energy mix away from fossil fuels, despite expressing positive top-line positions on the issue. In a METI hearing in December 2021, JSIM stated that it would contribute “toward 2050” through renewable energy, electrification, and “fuel conversation (CO2 zero gas, etc.),” but did not specify the extent of this nor the need for legislative measures. In the January 2022 journal issue published on JSIM’s website, Chairman Tamotsu Saito appeared to support “clean energy strategies toward carbon neutrality in 2050” and supported the acceleration of hydrogen, ammonia, and CCUS, but did not specify a position on decarbonizing hydrogen production. JSIM also stated support for electricity generated by biogas in a report published on its website in October 2021, and supported the increased use of bioenergy and renewables in its 2021 Environmental Activity Report published in February 2022, although with some ambiguity around whether the project timeline for this transition aligned with IPCC guidelines.

In its policy recommendations published on its website in May 2022, JSIM appeared to broadly support measures to “realize joint use of decarbonized energy and carbon-circulating materials” and “promote carbon neutrality” in heavy industry. However, in the same position paper, JSIM stated that while the increase of renewables is important, thermal power generation “should be promoted to be utilized through higher efficiency and low-carbonization.” Similarly, in a policy paper in November 2021, JSIM stated that while it is “important” to increase renewables in the 2030 energy mix, “S+3E (Safety, Stable Supply, Economy, and Environment)” should be “taken into account,” including the restart of nuclear power plants, in addition to “high-efficiency and low-carbon thermal power generation.”

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.