13th ICEF Annual Meeting Held
Overview
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and NEDO held the 13th annual meeting of the Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF). Under the theme “Transition to an Electrostate and GX Through Energy Security,” participants discussed the role of electricity generated from low-carbon sources and technologies and measures to achieve decarbonization, economic growth, and energy security simultaneously. Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ishii spoke about the need to jointly improve the stability of fossil fuel procurement and accelerate and strengthen GX, as well as the importance of international cooperation and sharing knowledge.
Key points
- METI and NEDO held the 13th ICEF Annual Meeting.
- The main theme was “Transition to an Electrostate and GX (Green Transformation) Through Energy Security.”
- Participants discussed technologies and measures such as EVs and advanced nuclear reactors, as well as the role of low-carbon electricity.
Overview
ICEF is an international platform established in 2014 through a Japanese initiative to help solve climate change issues through innovation in the energy and environmental fields. It aims to promote discussion and cooperation among academia, industry, and government by bringing together ministers, experts, and leaders from around the world.
Against the backdrop of major changes in the global energy situation driven by geopolitical risks, resource constraints, and rising electricity demand, participants discussed the role of electricity from low-carbon sources in GX and energy diversification.
Details
Topics included EVs, advanced nuclear reactors, next-generation data centers, the circular economy, hydrogen, and international cooperation in the electricity sector. Experts from industry, academia, and government around the world spoke across 7 sessions and discussed technologies and measures for achieving decarbonization, economic growth, and energy security simultaneously.
In his opening remarks, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Ishii introduced Japan’s GX efforts to achieve a stable energy supply, economic growth, and decarbonization simultaneously. With security concerns growing against a backdrop that includes the situation in the Middle East, he described the need to jointly improve the stability of fossil fuel procurement and accelerate and strengthen GX. He also emphasized that addressing climate change requires cross-border cooperation and the sharing of scientific and technological knowledge, and expressed hope that ICEF would advance international cooperation.
Speakers and other participants included Nobuo Tanaka, Chair of the ICEF Steering Committee; Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA; Shin Hosaka, Executive Vice President of INPEX; Adnan Amin, Chair of the World Energy Council; Jane Nakano, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); Johnjoon Yoo, Vice Chairman of SK Group; and Helen Stilianou, Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Japan.