In this wide-ranging interview, energy analyst Dr Walter James offers an incisive assessment of Japan’s path to net-zero by 2050. From strategic coherence and institutional constraints to LNG diplomacy, hydrogen ambitions, and civil society’s role, James unpacks the dynamics shaping Japan’s energy transformation. This conversation provides valuable insights into the political economy of decarbonisation in one of the world’s most energy-dependent industrial economies.
Content
- Strategic Coherence: Can Japan Achieve Net-Zero by 2050?
- Understanding Domestic Scepticism Toward Climate Goals
- Institutions and Governance: The Role of the Basic Energy Plan
- Public vs. Private Ownership in Japan’s Energy Sector
- Who Owns Japan’s Major Energy Companies?
- The Strategic Role of LNG in Japan’s Energy Transition
- LNG Diplomacy and Japan’s Geopolitical Exposure
- Japan’s Hydrogen Society: Vision and Implementation
- Nuclear Power in Japan’s Future Energy Mix
- Barriers to Accelerating Renewable Energy Deployment
- Carbon Capture and Storage: Promise or Distraction?
- Corporate Collaboration in Decarbonisation Efforts
- Civil Society’s Role in Advancing Climate Action
- Start-Ups and Innovation in Japan’s Climate Ecosystem
- Households and Energy System Upgrades
- Japan’s Greatest Untapped Opportunity in Decarbonisation
Walter James
Dr Walter James is a political scientist and energy policy consultant specialising in Japan’s decarbonisation strategy. Dr James holds a PhD in Political Science from Temple University, with research focusing on the political dynamics of financial regulatory reforms in the United States and Japan. His academic work included a research fellowship at Waseda University in Tokyo.
He is the principal at Power Japan Consulting and the author of the Power Japan Substack, where he provides detailed analyses of Japan’s energy transition.
He frequently contributes to platforms such as The Japan Times, Energy Tracker Asia, Climate Home News, and East Asia Forum.
His work critically explores the intersection of energy policy, governance, and geopolitics in East Asia.
Publication
James, W. (2025). Liquefied natural gas on a razor’s edge: Japan’s energy security in a tumultuous world. In Z. Zhu, Security Challenges in Contemporary Indo-Pacific (pp. 405–431). WORLD SCIENTIFIC. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789811276958_0017
Power Japan Substack (Blog)
https://powerjapan.substack.com
