May 28, 2020
On May 26, a group of 127 environmental organizations from 40 countries sent to the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Japan’s three maga-banks, and Prime Minister Abe Shinzo a statement demanding that Japan withdraw from the Vung Ang 2 coal-fired thermal power plant project in Vietnam.
The statement published by the 127 NGOs of which 34 are based in Japan states that Japan should not promote coal-fueled thermal power generation, the most carbon-intensive power source, in Vietnam. Explaining problems concerning the Vung Ang 2 project, it points out that the environmental impact assessment of the project is insufficient, that local residents in the Vung Ang district already suffer from dust pollution and health damage caused by the existing thermal power plant, and that the developer of the new power plant does not even bother to listen to opinions of local residents who will be forced to leave their community and lose their ways of living due to the construction project.
The statement also notes that the investment in the project will most likely be irrecoverable as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has prolonged the construction period and pushed up the costs while renewables are expected to become more and more competitive in the electricity market.
Fukakusa Ayumi of the international environmental NGO Friends of the Earth Japan said, “Japan’s financial support for overseas projects constructing coal-fired power plants has long faced global criticism. In addition, young climate activists in Japan are voicing their protest in this regard. Countries across the planet are trying to envisage what a post-coronavirus society will be. Japan should review its stance toward coal-fired thermal power generation.”
Past related article:
> Indonesian environmental NGO calls for end to Japan’s financing of coal-fired power plant in Indonesia [ December 5, 2019]
The statement published by the 127 NGOs of which 34 are based in Japan states that Japan should not promote coal-fueled thermal power generation, the most carbon-intensive power source, in Vietnam. Explaining problems concerning the Vung Ang 2 project, it points out that the environmental impact assessment of the project is insufficient, that local residents in the Vung Ang district already suffer from dust pollution and health damage caused by the existing thermal power plant, and that the developer of the new power plant does not even bother to listen to opinions of local residents who will be forced to leave their community and lose their ways of living due to the construction project.
The statement also notes that the investment in the project will most likely be irrecoverable as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has prolonged the construction period and pushed up the costs while renewables are expected to become more and more competitive in the electricity market.
Fukakusa Ayumi of the international environmental NGO Friends of the Earth Japan said, “Japan’s financial support for overseas projects constructing coal-fired power plants has long faced global criticism. In addition, young climate activists in Japan are voicing their protest in this regard. Countries across the planet are trying to envisage what a post-coronavirus society will be. Japan should review its stance toward coal-fired thermal power generation.”
Past related article:
> Indonesian environmental NGO calls for end to Japan’s financing of coal-fired power plant in Indonesia [ December 5, 2019]
