VICTORY: Mighty Earth Statement on the Cancellation of Japanese Coal Plant at Matarbari, Bangladesh
Yesterday, the Japanese government announced an end to their overseas coal finance, resulting in the cancellation of the Matarbari 2 coal power plant. The Matarbari 2 coal plant had been the symbol of Japan’s failure to quit coal. The withdrawal of Sumitomo Corporation as lead contractor on February 28 after an intensive global campaign made the end of this project likely.
“This is an inspiring victory that brings Japan’s era of overseas coal finance to an end. We celebrate that Bangladeshis will not have to suffer from the burden of air pollution, toxic mercury pollution and increased debt this plant would have caused,” said Roger Smith, Japan Director for Mighty Earth. “Japan needs to hasten the retirement of existing coal plants at home and abroad without resorting to duplicitous technologies including biomass, hydrogen and ammonia that displace emissions to other countries rather than reduce them.”
Mighty Earth is a global advocacy organization that works to stop climate change and deforestation. In December 2019, Mighty Earth launched a global campaign demanding Sumitomo Corporation end its reliance on dirty coal and wood biomass. We worked in close collaboration with allies in Bangladesh, Japan and across the globe to press for the cancellation of this project and a rapid transition to clean, renewable energy.
