G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding OECD Member Country Evidence

Japan is ranked second among G20 OECD member countries for its low level of support for fossil fuel use, yet it remains the second-highest supplier of public finance for fossil fuel projects. While overall support dropped by 48%, Japan increased public finance for coal production by 944% relative to the 2014–2016 average. The document highlights significant transparency gaps and the continued funding of coal and LNG projects in countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

• Japan is the second-highest public financier of fossil fuel projects among G20 OECD members, providing an annual average of USD 8.3 billion from 2017 to 2018. This funding primarily supports coal and liquefied natural gas projects abroad, specifically in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, where local communities have contested them due to climate and health impacts.
• Despite an overall 48% drop in fossil fuel support, Japan significantly increased its public finance for coal production to USD 1.1 billion (2017–2018 average), representing a 944% increase compared to the 2014–2016 average.
• Japan's transparency regarding fossil fuel funding is poor; only the Japan International Cooperation Agency publishes a comprehensive project list among five public finance institutions. Additionally, Japan has not committed to a G20 peer review of its fossil fuel subsidies.
• In July 2020, Japan introduced a policy to stop financing overseas coal plants in countries lacking a decarbonization policy, but the policy includes exceptions for projects already under consideration or those using "highly efficient" technology.
• Between 2017 and 2019, Japan's average total government support to fossil fuels was USD 10.4 billion, consisting of USD 2.1 billion in direct transfers and USD 8.3 billion in public finance.

APA

Tucker, B. (2020). G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding OECD Member Country Evidence. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/g20-scorecard-japan.pdf

Chicago

Tucker, Bronwen. G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding OECD Member Country Evidence. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/g20-scorecard-japan.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Tucker |first1=Bronwen |title=G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding OECD Member Country Evidence |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/g20-scorecard-japan.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{tucker2020g20, author = {Tucker, Bronwen}, title = {{G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding OECD Member Country Evidence}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/g20-scorecard-japan.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }