The World Economic Forum will take place in Davos on January 21-24. According to the Forum’s website, the first theme on the annual meeting’s agenda is: “How to address the urgent climate and environmental challenges that are harming our ecology and economy”. (1)

Among the meeting participants are representatives of Japan’s three megabanks Mizuho Financial Group, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC). Last month, a report revealed that these three banks have become the world’s top three lenders for corporations that are still developing coal power and mining infrastructure globally. (2)

Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace International said:

“Financial institutions have a huge responsibility regarding the global economy. Up until now their business decisions have enabled the use of fossil fuels, and contributed to the climate crisis we are in. It is time these financial actors took responsibility and started shifting money from coal to decarbonisation. We expect Japan’s major financial groups Mizuho, MUFG and SMBC to be part of this global trend.”

Hanna Hakko, Senior Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace Japan said:

“In the annual UN climate meeting COP25 Japan and its representative Environment Minister Koizumi were heavily criticised for the failure to address Japan’s addiction to coal. In Davos similar criticism can be pointed to Japan’s megabanks. The issue is very clear: financing coal means financing the climate crisis, and major Japanese banks are the world’s biggest lenders for coal right now.

The Davos attendees are expected to present ideas on how to address the climate challenge. Mizuho, MUFG and SMBC have to develop new energy financing policies soon if they want to be seen as part of the climate solution, rather than financiers of the climate crisis.”

During the Davos meeting, Greenpeace International is publishing a report that gives an overview of major global financial institutions which are propping up the fossil fuel industry. Of Japanese financial institutions, MUFG, Mizuho, Tokyo Marine Holdings and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa are included.

(1) http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_AM20_Overview.pdf

(2) https://coalexit.org/sites/default/files/download_public/COP25_PR_Logos.pdf