Pikachu Protests at COP30: Japan's Fossil Fuel Empire Under Scrutiny
In a bold display of activism, protesters dressed as Pikachu, the iconic electric mouse from the Pokemon franchise, made their presence known at the United Nations climate conference (COP30) on Friday. Their message was clear: Japan must stop funding coal and natural gas projects in Southeast Asia and other regions of the Global South. This protest, organized by Friends of the Earth Japan, coincided with the conference's thematic focus on energy, held in Belem, Brazil, near the Amazon rainforest.
The organizers highlighted a paradoxical stance by Japan, a country that often positions itself as a leader in decarbonization in Asia. Despite its regional influence in climate negotiations, Japan's investments in fossil fuel projects in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines are seen as a major hindrance to the global transition to clean energy.
According to Hiroki Osada, a representative from Friends of the Earth Japan, these investments are a significant obstacle to the phase-out of fossil fuels in Asia. He emphasized the importance of the Global South's voices being heard at COP30, as they demand concrete actions from the Japanese government to address this issue.
A 2025 study by the Centre for Energy, Ecology, and Development, based in the Philippines, revealed alarming figures. From 2016 to 2024, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation provided loans totaling US$6.4 billion for coal projects and US$874 million for gas projects, according to public government and banking data. This financial support has been a key factor in Japan's delay of fossil fuel phase-out efforts across the region.
