There is a growing movement against Japan's controversial policy to export carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions to other countries, particularly in the Global South. Spearheading this movement is Ayumi Fukakusa, the Deputy Executive Director of Friends of the Earth Japan, who initiated a global petition earlier this year, raising serious concerns over the implications of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects, especially for countries like Malaysia, which has signed multiple agreements with Japanese corporations. At the heart of this debate are the risks of long-term liability, environmental hazards, and the pressing need for genuine climate action rather than relying on unproven technologies. We speak to Ayumi to dive deeper into these issues, and to discuss why Japan’s approach of exporting CO₂ to developing countries such as Malaysia might exacerbate the climate crisis, and how it could constitute an unjust practice often referred to as “carbon colonialism.”

<p>There is a growing movement against Japan's controversial policy to export carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions to other countries, particularly in the Global South. Spearheading this movement is Ayumi Fukakusa, the Deputy Executive Director of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://foejapan.org/">Friends of the Earth Japan</a>, who initiated a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://foejapan.org/en/issue/20240508/17466/">global petition</a> earlier this year, raising serious concerns over the implications of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects, especially for countries like Malaysia, which has signed multiple agreements with Japanese corporations. At the heart of this debate are the risks of long-term liability, environmental hazards, and the pressing need for genuine climate action rather than relying on unproven technologies. We speak to Ayumi to dive deeper into these issues, and to discuss why Japan’s approach of exporting CO₂ to developing countries such as Malaysia might exacerbate the climate crisis, and how it could constitute an unjust practice often referred to as “carbon colonialism.”</p>

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

Advertisement