Result of Webinar on the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Implementation in Republic of Palau - Innovation for Carbon Neutrality through JCM -

Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan (MOEJ), the Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC) and Pacific Consultants Co., Ltd. in collaboration with Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Industries, Republic of Palau (MPII) jointly organized “Webinar on the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Implementation in Republic of Palau - Innovation for Carbon Neutrality through JCM -” on Friday, February 18th, 2022. This webinar received more than 100 applications from Palau, Japan, etc.

Government of Japan is promoting dissemination of advanced decarbonizing technologies through the Financing Programme for JCM Model Projects*2. The webinar was participated by government officials and business leaders from both countries, and it aimed at sharing overview and progress of JCM and facilitating project development and scaling up those future projects.

Furthermore, as countries around the world aim to be carbon-neutral, innovation is the key to realizing a decarbonized society, in addition to thorough energy conservation and the introduction of renewable energy.

This webinar introduced “Financing Programme for JCM Model Projects”, “Financing Programme to Demonstrate Decarbonization Technology for Realizing Co-Innovation”*3, “Pilot Project for Comprehensive Support throughout the Whole Hydrogen Supply Chain Abroad”*4 started this fiscal year and Japan Fund for JCM (JFJCM)*5 as well as good examples of each project. Through these, the path to a post-corona decarbonized society in Palau was explored.

After the webinar, individual meetings with the companies presenting the webinar were arranged online to form new business opportunities in Palau. Also, individual consultation was set up online for companies who would like to ask questions related to Financing Programme for JCM.

It is hoped that these discussions will lead to concrete projects in the future.

Overview of Webinar

Date：Friday, February 18, 2022, 14:00-17:00 Palau time and Japan Time (UTC+9)
Venue：Zoom.
Organizers：Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Industries, Republic of Palau (MPII), Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan (MOEJ)
Support：International Organization Pacific Islands Centre (PIC)

Program

　　

Session 1. Opening Remarks
Mr. Hajime Sugimura, Second Secretary, Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Palau
Session 2. Information Sharing on the JCM Progress
Recent Development of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Mr. Masaki Nakayama, Researcher, Office of Market Mechanisms, and Office of Director for International Strategy on Climate Change, Climate Change Policy Division, Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan
Introduction of Renewable Energy/Energy Saving Projects in Island Countries Mr. Tutii Chilton, Executive Director, Palau Energy Administration, Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Industries, Republic of Palau
Financing Programme for JCM Model Projects Mr. Satoru Tango, Senior Manager, Financing Programme Group, Tokyo Office, Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC)
“Financing Programme to Demonstrate Decarbonization Technology for Realizing Co-Innovation” and “Pilot Project for Comprehensive Support throughout the Whole Hydrogen Supply Chain Abroad” Dr. Ryo Kubo, Senior Manager, Financing Programme Group, Tokyo Office, Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC)
Recent development of Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism Mr. Shintaro Fujii, Environment and Climate Change Specialist, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Division, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Session 3. JCM Implementation in Republic of Palau
JCM Project Formation Study in Republic of Palau Mr. Shigezane Kidoura, Chief Engineering Consultant, Sustainable Development Section, Project Management and Engineering Department, Global Company, Pacific Consultants Co., Ltd. (PCKK)
Business Opportunities with Low-carbon or Decarbonizing Technologies in Palau Ms. Eden Ridep Uchel, Manager, Surangel and Sons Company Mr. Fernando Arnel Gamboa, Chief Electrician, Surangel and Sons Company
SoftBank’s Low-carbon and Decarbonizing Businesses Applicable in Palau Mr. Norioki Sekiguchi, Vice President, Global Business Division, SoftBank Corporation
Introduction of Demonstration Project on Green Hydrogen Production in Australia, its Transportation to Palau and Utilization by Fuel Cell and Fuel Cell Boat Ms. Ryoko Takashima, Business Development Team, Planning & Administration Office, Metals, Mineral Resources & Recycling Division, Sojitz Corporation
Session 4. Closing Address
Mr. Xavier Matsutaro, National Climate Change Coordinator, Office of Climate Change, Bureau of Budget and Planning, Ministry of Finance, Republic of Palau
Individual Meeting among Participants and ADB/GEC/PCKK Consultation (via Zoom Meeting)
- Individual meetings between Session 3. speakers and participants - Consultation to ADB including JFJCM - Consultation to GEC or PCKK about JCM and JCM Financing Programme

*1　JCM stands for the Joint Crediting Mechanism, and it is a bilateral cooperation mechanism that developing countries and Japan collaborate on GHG emission reductions projects and share the reduction result. For further information, please refer to the official website of JCM

*2　In order to support the implementation of candidate JCM projects, Ministry of the Environment, Japan has launched the “JCM Model Projects”. The purpose of this model project is to financially support the implementation of projects which reduce GHG emissions by utilizing leading decarbonizing technologies in developing countries, and in return seeks to acquire JCM credits for achievement of Japan’s GHG emission reduction target.

*3　“Financing Programme to Demonstrate Decarbonization Technology for Realizing Co-Innovation” aims to create innovation beneficial for both Japan and developing countries through collaboration (co-innovation). The purpose of this financing program is creating a zero-carbon society through renovation and dissemination of high quality decarbonizing technologies and products, which are some of Japan’s strength, by means of systemization and packaging of multiple technologies, and by encouraging uptake of such technologies, in addition to bringing benefits to the technology developers in Japan as a result.

　*4　“Pilot Project for Comprehensive Support throughout the Whole Hydrogen Supply Chain Abroad” will subsidize a part of the demonstration project to produce hydrogen derived from renewable energy in third party countries where renewable energy is abundant such as solar power generation and wind power generation and to transport and utilize in partner countries (such as Pacific Island countries).

*5 JFJCM stands for Japan Fund for Joint Crediting Mechanism, and it provides the financial incentives for the adoption of advanced low-carbon technologies which are superior in GHG emission reduction but expensive in Asian Development Bank-financed projects.