Japan to rule out coal-fired plants as international criticism rises

Protesters call for the abolition of coal-fired thermal power and an end to construction of new coal plants in Japan at the COP24 U.N. climate change conference in Katowice, Poland, in December 2018. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The Environment Ministry said that in principle it will not sanction construction of new large coal-fired power plants nor boilers to existing facilities in line with Japan’s international pledges to tackle global warming. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has the final say on whether to approve new coal plant projects, but such decisions are supposed to take into account the environment minister’s opinion.

Source: www.asahi.com