Youths vs Titans: 16 young plaintiffs sue Japan’s Energy Giants

Sixteen young people from across Japan have filed an unprecedented lawsuit against ten major power companies, demanding that they significantly reduce their carbon dioxide emissions to help secure a livable future. The lawsuit, filed on August 6 in the Nagoya District Court, marks Japan’s first nationwide climate action led by youth and underscores the growing global trend of young people taking legal action to combat the climate crisis.

The plaintiffs, aged from their teens to twenties, argue that the continued high levels of CO2 emissions from these companies threaten their future, violating their human rights. The ten companies named in the lawsuit—JERA, J-Power, Kobe Steel, and the electric power companies of Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu—collectively account for roughly 30 percent of Japan’s energy-related CO2 emissions.

The young plaintiffs are calling for these companies to align their emission reductions with the targets set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which has stated that global CO2 emissions must be cut by 48 percent by 2030 and 65 percent by 2035 to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The youth-driven lawsuit, dubbed the “Youth Climate Case Japan for Tomorrow / Future,” is part of a global movement in which young people, recognizing the disproportionate impact that climate change will have on their generation, are increasingly turning to the courts to demand stronger action from governments and corporations. It joins other youth-led cases, like South Korea, with Asia’s first climate-related litigation, and the biggest climate case heard before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Barbados and Brazil. Montana’s win for climate youth advocates is inspiring courage in challenging the status quo too, as more young plaintiffs are seeking accountability for the environmental degradation they will inherit.

In Japan, the plaintiffs are not only challenging the current emission reduction targets of these power companies, which they argue fall short of the IPCC’s recommendations. (Japan is the only G7 nation that has yet to commit to a specific year for phasing out coal-fired thermal power generation.) They are also questioning the companies’ reliance on uncertain and potentially unrealistic technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, hydrogen co-firing, and the continued operation of coal-fired power plants under the assumption of achieving zero-emission thermal power. The plaintiffs contend that these plans violate the companies’ duty of care to reduce emissions and protect the environment.

At a press conference held after the lawsuit was filed, the young plaintiffs made their motivations clear. “We cannot allow the fossil fuel industry to destroy our future for short-term profits,” one of the plaintiffs said. Another added, “We want to do everything we can now to leave the Earth in its current state for future generations.” Their words echoed the sentiments of youth climate activists around the world, who are increasingly vocal about the urgent need for action to address the climate crisis.

We can choose to see these youths’ efforts as a stark reminder that the decisions made today will have profound consequences for future generations. However, we can do one better by choosing to show them support in their historic stride towards a better future for all. So be sure to follow their updates on the official website dedicated to the case. Other platform links like social media accounts are expected to be added at a later date.