Japan sees COP31 as venue to deepen energy co-op with Türkiye

COP31 is the climate summit where countries discuss how to address climate change and carry out their commitments. Türkiye’s role as host gives it a platform to shape the meeting’s focus. Japan’s ambassador said the summit could mark a new milestone after the countries’ diplomatic ties reached their centenary in 2024.

Türkiye wants COP31 to emphasize implementation. That means turning climate commitments into concrete action rather than leaving them as goals. Japan said it fully supported this approach. The two countries also agree that there is no single route to meeting climate targets because national economic and geographic conditions differ.

Hosting the summit can deepen bilateral cooperation in energy security, renewable energy and efficiency. It can bring governments, companies and other stakeholders together. A planned Japan Pavilion will display technologies and provide a place for Turkish and Japanese participants to exchange ideas and explore projects.

Japan and Türkiye hope to advance cooperation across the energy value chain. Their priorities include energy security, renewable energy and efficiency in energy production, transmission and storage. They also see hydrogen as promising, while ammonia and nuclear energy remain possible areas for future collaboration.

Türkiye has strong potential in hydropower, wind and solar energy. Japan brings technology and industrial experience. Hitachi Energy’s operations in Kocaeli illustrate this connection. The company provides transmission equipment that helps integrate renewable electricity and maintain grid stability. The Türkiye-Japan Energy Forum, created after a 2024 memorandum, offers another structure for practical cooperation.

The countries are also looking beyond their own borders. Japanese and Turkish companies could cooperate in Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Japan’s planned COP31 Pavilion may help businesses and other stakeholders exchange views, identify partners and develop projects in these energy fields.

Japan and Türkiye both depend heavily on imported energy resources, according to Ambassador Tamura. The article does not provide a percentage, volume or comparison showing exactly how heavy that dependence is. It does establish that imported energy creates a shared challenge for both countries.

Import dependence can make energy security a major policy concern. Supply disruptions, price changes or transport problems can affect national economies. The article links this challenge to efforts to improve energy production, transmission and storage efficiency. It also highlights greater use of renewable resources, including Türkiye’s hydropower, wind and solar potential.

This shared situation gives Japan and Türkiye a practical reason to cooperate. Their 2024 energy memorandum and Türkiye-Japan Energy Forum aim to support more concrete work, especially in energy security and efficiency. Companies can develop technologies and projects that reduce waste, strengthen systems and expand domestic renewable options.

Better efficiency means getting more useful energy from production, transmission and storage systems. That can reduce waste and help countries meet climate goals with fewer resources. Renewable power can also lower reliance on imported energy, supporting security as well as emissions objectives.

The article gives a concrete example in Kocaeli. Hitachi Energy provides electricity transmission equipment that supports the integration and stability of renewable energy into the grid. Storage is another focus for both countries. It can help manage renewable electricity and make energy available when production and demand do not match.

These improvements are not presented as one universal pathway. Tamura stressed that countries need approaches suited to their economic and geographic conditions. Japan and Türkiye can combine renewable projects with efficiency, grid equipment and storage. Their energy forum and private-sector partnerships could turn these priorities into practical investments.

Private companies would build, supply and operate many of the projects. Tamura said they ultimately make the difference in results. Governments should create conditions that encourage partnerships, but businesses must turn shared goals into equipment, infrastructure and services.

The article identifies several possible support tools. JICA, JBIC and Eximbank could help companies with cooperation and financing. An agreement between a Japanese government-affiliated financial institution and its Turkish counterpart is also intended to strengthen financial mechanisms. These tools could reduce barriers and make cross-border projects easier to develop.

The Türkiye-Japan Energy Forum provides an institutional setting for more concrete work. It focuses particularly on energy efficiency and energy security. Companies could use this framework, alongside public finance, to pursue renewable, grid, storage or other energy projects. The article emphasizes that government support is valuable, but private-sector execution determines the final results.

Joint projects can benefit from complementary strengths. Japanese companies offer technological capabilities, while Turkish companies bring regional experience, business networks and a strategic position. Together, these assets may help partners understand local markets, find opportunities and deliver complex energy work.

The article gives existing examples. Japanese companies are working with Çalık Holding and Rönesans Holding on energy-related projects in Turkmenistan and Senegal. It also cites Hitachi Energy’s transmission operations in Kocaeli. These examples show how industrial technology and business partnerships can support energy cooperation.

The ambassador highlighted Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe as promising regions. Cooperation there could extend beyond bilateral projects and create wider commercial links. The next step is to connect companies through forums, financing mechanisms and COP31 discussions. Results will depend on businesses forming workable partnerships suited to each country’s circumstances.

Energy security is the ability to maintain dependable energy supplies while managing vulnerabilities. For Japan and Türkiye, imported-energy dependence makes this especially important. The article connects energy security with efficient production, transmission and storage, greater renewable use and cooperation between companies.

Different technologies solve different problems. Renewables can expand domestic energy options. Efficiency reduces wasted energy. Storage can help manage supply and demand. Japan is investing in hydrogen for storage, transportation and utilization, although the technology needs further development. Tamura also identified ammonia and nuclear energy as possible cooperation areas.

The article does not say every country must use the same mix. Tamura stressed that economic and geographic conditions differ. Japan remains cautious about nuclear power after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, but still views it as important for energy security. Any nuclear cooperation, he said, should proceed carefully and step by step.