The Japanese government should be treating decarbonisation with the outmost importance and urgency. It is one of the largest energy consumers in the world – fifth largest oil consumer for example –and it is almost totally reliant on fossil fuel imports. The authorities did set out a net zero road map which has been broadly criticised for not being robust. Our guest, Mika Ohbayashi of the Renewable Energy Institute in Japan, is uniquely qualified to discuss the government’s renewable energy past track record as well as its path going forward. In the episode, we also discuss the approach to various energy technologies including nuclear energy.
ABOUT MIKA. Mika Ohbayashi is a Director at Japan’s Renewable Energy Institute. Before joining the Institute, she worked for International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as Policy and Project Regional Manager for Asia Oceania, in Abu Dhabi, from May 2010 to Aug 2011. She is one of two founders of Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP), and served as Deputy Director for 8 years since its establishment in 2000. She also worked for UKFCO at the British Embassy to Japan, as Advisor for Climate Change Projects and Policies. She started her carrier in the energy fields by joining Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center in 1992, after some years work experience. She coordinates many scientific study projects, takes leadership to team up various networks including national parliamentarians and local authorities, domestically and internationally to improve sustainable energy society. She was awarded the Global Leadership Award in Advancing Solar Energy Policy by the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) in 2017.
HOST, PRODUCTION, ARTWORK: Joseph Jacobelli | MUSIC: The Open Goldberg Variations, Kimiko Ishizaka | FEEDBACK: Email the Host.
HOST, PRODUCTION, ARTWORK: Joseph Jacobelli | MUSIC: Ep0-29 The Open Goldberg Variations, Kimiko Ishizaka Ep30- Orchestra Gli Armonici – Tomaso Albinoni, Op.07, Concerto 04 per archi in Sol - III. Allegro. | FEEDBACK: Email the Host.