In a striking demonstration at the United Nations climate conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil, activists donned Pokemon costumes to protest Japan’s continued financing of coal and natural gas projects in Southeast Asia and other Global South regions. The protest, organized by environmental groups including Friends of the Earth Japan, coincided with the conference’s energy-focused thematic day. Activists accused Japan of undermining Asia’s transition to renewable energy by funding fossil fuel developments in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Hiroki Osada, a representative of Friends of the Earth Japan, emphasized the importance of Global South voices in pressuring Japan to halt such investments. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation, a key player in Japan’s overseas aid, has reportedly financed $6.4 billion in coal projects and $874 million in gas projects from 2016 to 2024, according to a study by the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development. The protest featured life-sized inflatable Pikachu costumes, with activists chanting slogans like “Only Pokemon, no fossil fuels” and “Sayonara fossil fuels.” The event highlighted the growing frustration with Japan’s fossil fuel agenda, which activists argue is incompatible with global climate goals. The demonstration was part of a series of anti-fossil fuel actions at COP30, including a “Kick Out the Suits” event targeting fossil fuel lobbyists and a planned “funeral for fossil fuels” march. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called for a clear roadmap to phase out fossil fuels, a sentiment echoed by several countries. However, environmental groups like Greenpeace International stress the need for actionable outcomes rather than symbolic pledges.
Protesters in Pikachu costumes demand Japan end fossil fuel financing at UN climate conference
