KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 – Today, 90 civil society organizations representing 26 countries have jointly submitted a petition letter to the Japanese government, urging it to cease the export of CO2 to other nations. This move comes amidst deliberations in the Japanese Diet regarding the CCS Business Bill, which aims to establish a legal framework for carbon capture and storage (CCS) operations. However, concerns have been raised regarding the risks and environmental implications associated with CCS technology.
Japanese corporations have already embarked on CCS projects in the region, having signed at least 15 agreements since 2022 to export CO2 to countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia, often in collaboration with major oil and gas companies like ExxonMobil. Climate experts caution that CCS technology remains unproven, with significant risks and costs, potentially impeding genuine climate action in Japan and across Asia. Leaks in CCS infrastructure pose significant threats to surrounding communities, as evidenced by past incidents such as the carbon dioxide pipeline rupture in Mississippi in 2020 and a recent leak in Louisiana.
Environmentalists argue that the export of CO2 to developing nations not only exacerbates the climate crisis but also violates principles of climate justice. Meenakshi Raman, President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia, asserts that developed nations must lead in phasing out fossil fuels and calls upon the Japanese government to halt the dumping of carbon in countries like Malaysia. Similarly, Mr. Fanny Tri Jambore of WALHI, Indonesia, denounces the adverse impacts of CCS projects on local communities, labeling it as “carbon colonialism.”
