Mapping the Energy Future

This episode is talking about “Energy discussions in Davos”. Mr. Terazawa will share the discussions in Davos, to which he was invited during the week of January 20th. There were so many discussions in Davos that he can only cover mostly energy related topics. These are solely his takeaways from Davos, and he is quite sure that some of you who attended may have different views.

This episode is talking about “Japan’s 7th Strategic Energy Plan”. The draft for Japan’s 7th Strategic Energy Plan (the Plan) has been approved by the government policy committee of which Mr. Terazawa is a member. The Plan will be put to a public comment process and is expected to be decided by the Cabinet in February. Mr. Terazawa will share an overview of the Plan.

This episode is talking about “Are BEVs the only path to decarbonize the passenger vehicle sector?”. In many countries Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are considered the only powertrain toward the pathway for decarbonizing the passenger vehicle sector. But the choice of the powertrain must be determined based on a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) basis considering GHG emissions region-by-region. This analysis presents a very different picture for the future of passenger vehicles.

This episode is talking about “Are we on the path towards 1.5℃?”. COP29 ended with mixed achievements. The return of Donald Trump as President-elect certainly put cold water on the discussions. As countries are now preparing for their next NDCs, Mr. Terazawa believes that it is an appropriate time to assess where we are on our path towards 1.5℃.

This episode is talking about “The Impact on energy policies of the political turmoil in Japan”. The general election of October 27 turned out to be a surprise to many. The ruling parties lost their majority. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was confirmed to continue as Prime Minister of Japan as of November 11, despite leading a minority coalition. His government will face many challenges.

This episode is talking about “New Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his energy policy”. Shigeru Ishiba recently won the presidential race of the LDP and, as of October 1, he became the new Prime Minister of Japan. Mr. Terazawa will explore the extent of his energy policy in this episode.

This episode is talking about “The Legacy of PM Fumio Kishida and the remaining issues”. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that he will not seek his reelection. He will leave behind a significant legacy in the energy sector. His successor will need to address several important remaining issues.

This episode is talking about “Without transmission, No transition”. Although so far relatively less attention has been paid to the power grid, the fact is that it will play a crucial and fundamental role to a successful energy transition. The experience of Japan may provide valuable lessons for the world.

This episode is talking about “Election of parliament in EU and its implications for energy and climate policy. Right-wing parties made strides in the European Parliament elections held in June. This is said to be due to a change in the mindset of European citizens, and its impact on future European energy and environmental policies is attracting interest. This time, we will invite experts from Germany to share their perspectives on the latest situation in Europe.

This episode is talking about “The 7th Strategic Energy Plan of Japan: The points to watch”. On May 15th, the Government of Japan launched its process to develop the 7th Strategic Energy Plan to identify the direction of Japan’s energy policies for the future. It is worth looking into the discussions of the advisory committee in charge of developing the Plan.