Scored evidence collected on an entity's engagement with land-use and circular economy policy will now be fully weighted into the final calculations for each entity's metrics. This follows a two year process where InfluenceMap has evolved its methodology to collect evidence on corporate and industry engagement with these key areas of climate-related policy.
We have strengthened the algorithm for discounting the impact older evidence on an organization's top-line metrics. Evidence from within the last two years is weighted the strongest and then gradually weighted out of the scoring calculations as it gets older. All evidence that is 5 years or older is completely removed from the scoring calculations. Users will still be able to view older evidence items that are archived the scoring matrix below, but these will not be impacting the organization's current scores.
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: The Japan Aluminium Association (JAA) appears to have limited, mixed engagement with climate and energy related policies. It has engaged negatively on carbon border adjustment measures while appearing to support the Japanese government’s GHG emissions reduction targets. It has also appeared to support the decarbonization of aluminum production, including through increased use of renewable energy, although with some ambiguity around its positions on the extent of this support and the need for related policies.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: JAA appears to have mixed top-line messaging on climate change policy. On its website in January 2022, JAA announced that it formed a “vision toward carbon neutrality in 2050,” and it presented its sector-wide “carbon-neutral vision and 2030 target” in a METI hearing in the same month. In a message on JAA’s website in January 2022, then-JAA Chairman Yoshihiko Kimura stated that “in accordance with the government's policy, we will also continue our efforts toward carbon neutrality.” Regarding climate change regulation, in a shared statement with global aluminum associations published by European Aluminium in January 2022, JAA recognized that “more ambitious climate policies” were “essential” to deliver on the Paris Agreement, however it emphasized concerns about carbon leakage and stated that “simply layering new climate policies on top of already distorted international markets risks exacerbating trade tensions without improving climate outcomes.” It reiterated this position in another joint statement published by European Aluminium in September 2022.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: JAA has engaged negatively on carbon border adjustment measures (CBAM) but has appeared to support Japan’s GHG emissions reduction targets. It disclosed that it engages with policymakers on energy and the environment on its website, accessed September 2022, but did not provide further detail on its positions. In its joint statement published by European Aluminium in January 2022, JAA stated that CBAM has the potential to exacerbate “a continued reliance on fossil fuel-based systems.” In a joint statement in September 2022, it appeared to raise concerns around the introduction of carbon pricing and CBAM, stating that “simply layering new climate policies on top of distorted international markets risks exacerbating trade tensions without improving climate outcomes.” In July 2021 however, Mainichi Shimbun reported that JAA stated that many products targeted by the EU CBAM are manufactured locally, “so the direct impact will be minimal.” JAA has appeared to support Japan’s GHG emissions targets, stating on its website in January 2022 that its sector-wide targets were set in response to the Japanese government’s 2050 carbon-neutral and 2030 emissions reduction goals.
Positioning on Energy Transition: JAA has appeared to have mixed positions on the energy transition, often recognizing future roles for renewable energy in aluminum production without specifying a position on the extent or need for policy. In a METI hearing in January 2022, JAA recognized that a “key point” for aluminum production in the future is “how to use non-fossil fuels for combustion,” and stated that it will “continue to study” the contribution of electric vehicles to emission reductions, but did not specify a position on policies to support these. Similarly, in a METI hearing in January 2021, JAA stated that it incorporates “renewable energy for electricity and non-fossil fuels” in the production process as “efforts toward carbon neutrality,” but appeared ambiguous regarding the pace and extent of this increase. In its joint statement published by European Aluminium in September 2022, JAA recognized that production systems based on coal produce much larger emissions than “hydro based systems,” and stated that “massive” private investment in “alternative clean energy systems” is required to decarbonize aluminum supply chains. In a statement on JAA’s website in January 2021, then-chairman Ichiro Okamoto appeared to support the electrification of transportation, referencing METI’s considerations of a 2030 target for electric vehicles and stating that demand for aluminum “is expected to continue to increase as electric vehicles become more widespread.”
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q4 2022.