AGP Executive Report

Climate Watch: Pacific sea temperatures in the El Niño monitoring zone hit a September record of 29.70°C, Copernicus reported. The event’s overall strength is not yet confirmed, but El Niño can raise drought and flood risks and intensify human-driven warming. Energy Transition: Japan’s Keidanren and regional partners urged Asian governments to pair decarbonisation with stronger energy resilience, critical-mineral supply chains and green investment. Clean Power: Construction has begun on the Kirishima Ebishodake geothermal plant, adding a new project to Japan’s renewable-energy pipeline. Biodiversity: Government and community teams are working to eradicate invasive mongooses from Amami-Oshima, while Nara Prefecture is training a new generation of foresters.

Minamata Lessons: As Japan revisits the mercury-poisoning disaster, journalists and survivors are urging media to listen to communities, investigate concerns early and hold companies and authorities to account. Wildlife and Weather: Poisonous kaentake mushrooms are appearing in large numbers on Mount Takao after an unusually hot summer and prolonged autumn rain. Officials have posted warnings, as touching the fungi can cause severe skin damage and eating them can be fatal. Climate Policy: Japan’s political debate is caught between climate action and continued support for gas, highlighting the challenge of aligning energy policy with emissions goals.

Wildlife Recovery: Japan released nine endangered crested ibises in Ishikawa, the second release on Honshu as conservationists work to expand the bird’s range beyond Sado Island. A Sado-raised ibis was also spotted more than 300 kilometres from its release site, a sign the birds are dispersing. Living Alongside Wildlife: A northeastern Japan city is testing drone-sprayed bear repellent as poor acorn crops raise the risk of bears venturing near people. Renewable Energy and Nature: A Japanese solar-park study found plant diversity beneath panels rivalled that of grassland, while Mazda’s microalgae biodiesel project won backing from Japan’s NEDO energy agency.

Climate & Fisheries: A study warns that Japanese flying squid could face commercial extinction by the 2040s under every emissions pathway. Japan’s weather agency also says El Niño has reached record strength. Water & Pollution: Japan is proposing tighter water limits for the pesticides thiamethoxam and glyphosate; a survey also found eco-labels can be unclear or potentially deceptive. Wildlife: A Sado crested ibis was spotted more than 300 km from its release site for the first time, while Japan released nine more ibises into the wild. Renewables & Nature: Plant diversity beneath solar panels at a Japanese solar park rivals that of grassland, and construction has begun on the Kirishima Ebishodake geothermal plant. Extreme Weather: Record rain has driven up vegetable prices, with Tokyo reporting 37 straight rainy days.

Wildlife and Coexistence: A trial in Kitaakita, Akita, is using drones to spray wood-vinegar bear repellent near an orchard and school, testing another tool as bear encounters rise. Species Recovery: An endangered crested ibis from Sado Island has been spotted more than 300 kilometres away in Shiga Prefecture—the first recorded sighting at that distance. Officials urge people not to disturb it. Climate and Food: Japan’s weather agency says El Niño has reached record strength. Tokyo’s 37-day run of rain ended this week, after heavy rainfall drove up vegetable prices. Marine Life: A study warns Japanese flying squid could face commercial extinction by the 2040s under every emissions pathway, underscoring the climate threat to fisheries. Clean Energy: Construction has begun on the Kirishima Ebishodake geothermal power plant, while research at a Japanese solar park found plant diversity beneath panels rivalled grassland.

Climate and heat: Japan warned that El Niño could become the strongest on record, as August tied the global heat record and temperatures again rose above 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels. Clean Energy: Construction has begun on a geothermal plant in Kirishima, while Japan is considering priority support for commercial solar projects as wind-power momentum slows. Urban Green Space: Tokyo residents are pressing for more trees and shade as the city’s tree cover shrinks. Water and Wildlife: Japan proposed tighter water limits on thiamethoxam and glyphosate, while communities are working to eradicate invasive mongooses on Amami-Oshima. Forests and Fisheries: Nara Prefecture is training a new generation of foresters; in Niigata, a salmon hub is looking to expand farming as wild catches plunge.

Climate Outlook: Japan’s weather agency says the developing El Niño is the strongest on record, with Pacific sea-surface temperatures 4°C above normal. The pattern is expected to persist through winter, bringing risks of higher heat and disrupted rainfall worldwide. Forest Resilience: Nara Prefecture is training foresters to manage mountain forests, a push shaped by the deadly 2011 Kii Peninsula rains. Its academy has graduated 72 specialists in six years. Crop Monitoring: Tokyo researchers developed a wafer-thin leaf sensor that can record electrical signals linked to plant stress before visible damage appears, potentially helping farmers spot drought, heat and disease earlier. Wildlife: Poor acorn crops are raising concern about bear encounters in Gunma, as officials warn residents to stay alert.

Mercury Pollution: A Minamata disease survivor urged countries to act on mercury contamination, as research warns climate change is reshaping how mercury moves through the environment. Urban Nature: Tokyo residents are pressing for more trees as the city’s canopy shrinks; the capital has also ended a record 37-day rainy stretch. In Gunma, a poor acorn crop has raised concerns about bears venturing near people. Wildlife & Fisheries: Niigata’s salmon industry is turning to full-scale farming as wild catches plunge 97.5%. Japan has also released nine crested ibises into the wild, the second release on the main island. Clean Energy & Habitat: A Japanese solar park found plant diversity beneath its panels rivaled that of grassland, while Japan’s wind industry looks to technology to regain momentum. Environmental Risks: TEPCO began its sixth discharge of treated water this fiscal year, and a flooded solar plant caught fire after a typhoon.

Mercury Pollution: A Minamata disease survivor is urging more countries to join the Minamata Convention, 70 years after mercury-contaminated seafood devastated communities around the bay. Climate and Fisheries: A study warns Japanese flying squid could face commercial extinction by the 2040s under every modeled emissions scenario. Renewables and Biodiversity: Research at a Japanese solar park found plant diversity beneath panels rivaled that of grassland, suggesting solar sites can also support wildlife habitat. Urban Nature: Tokyo residents are calling for more trees and shade as the city heats up and tree cover shrinks; the capital’s 37-day rain streak also pushed up vegetable prices. Wildlife Recovery: Japan released nine crested ibises into the wild, the second such release on the main island.

Wildlife Recovery: Japan released nine crested ibises into the wild, the second such release on the main island, as conservation efforts continue for the endangered bird. Solar and Biodiversity: A study at a Japanese solar park found plant diversity beneath panels rivaled that of grassland, while Japan is considering four categories for prioritizing commercial solar support. Green Claims: A new survey warns that eco-labels in Japan can be unclear or potentially misleading, complicating consumers’ efforts to identify sustainable products. Extreme Weather: Tokyo’s 37-day rain streak has pushed up fresh vegetable prices, highlighting how persistent weather can disrupt food supplies. Urban Nature: Tokyo residents are campaigning for more trees as the city’s canopy shrinks, seeking shade and greener streets. Wildlife and Farming: Japan is bracing for a dangerous bear season after record fatalities, while inland salmon farming is gaining attention as wild catches plunge.

Circular Economy Cooperation: Malaysia is renewing its partnership with Japan to boost circular economy and waste management, aiming for a 53% national recycling rate by 2035 through a new Memorandum of Cooperation. Wildlife Conservation: Japan released nine crested ibises into the wild on Honshu in Ishikawa Prefecture, the second main-island release, after earlier returns to the wild in Hakui. Urban Climate Resilience: HKUST is coordinating an international effort under Urban-PREDICT to improve urban weather forecasting and early warnings as climate risks intensify. Biodiversity Monitoring Research: Kyoto University researchers tested a “honey trap” survey using female stag beetles to better monitor canopy biodiversity in broadleaf forests. Okinawa U.S. Base Burden: Okinawa’s governor demanded stronger discipline measures for U.S. service members after an alleged murder by a Marine, renewing local concerns over noise, pollution, and crime. Science & Environment Link: The 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai for solving how life’s chemistry favors one mirror-image form—work crucial for pharmaceuticals.

Food Waste & Methane: A new report highlights how rotting uneaten food—especially household leftovers—drives climate warming by releasing methane in landfills, pointing to UN calls to cut organic waste and divert it into lower-methane systems. Japan Weather & Food Prices: Tokyo’s record-breaking stretch of rain is pushing up fresh vegetable prices, showing how extreme weather is hitting everyday costs. Forest Fires & El Niño: Japanese firms tied to Indonesia’s forestry sector are ramping up monitoring and support as El Niño-linked conditions worsen fires. Animal Welfare Oversight: Japan has started its first nationwide survey of animal cafes, finding large numbers of animals on display and raising concerns about welfare and wildlife trade, with regulators seeking clearer rules. Biodiversity & Tourism Pressure: Research from Bali warns coral reefs keep declining at a major tourism hub, arguing restoration efforts must tackle root causes like sediment and wastewater, not just rebuild reefs. Local Climate Adaptation Data: Armenia’s central bank is rolling out a climate risk map using detailed environmental data to help finance and planning respond to droughts and floods. Circular Agriculture Finance: Moldova is set to negotiate Japan-backed loans to modernize farm machinery and promote sustainable cultivation and soil conservation.

Climate Litigation: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to weigh whether states can sue oil companies over climate-change costs, a case that could reshape how climate risk is priced and managed by major firms. Japan & Aging Tech: Donut Robotics won a ¥300 million deal with Charm Care to deploy humanoid “physical AI” across 100+ private nursing homes, aiming to ease Japan’s care-worker crunch. Energy Security: The IEA warns Southeast Asia’s electricity demand is rising faster than supply plans, with data centers and cooling needs intensifying vulnerability to shocks. Okinawa Tensions: Japan’s PM called an alleged US Marine killing in Okinawa a “heinous crime,” reigniting anger over the island’s heavy US base presence. Packaging & Emissions: A Korea-focused reusable pallet-belt system claims major cuts in packaging waste and CO2 versus single-use stretch film. Biodiversity & Weather: Japan’s record rain streak and heat impacts are pushing up costs and stressing ecosystems, from crops to wildlife interactions. Space & Science: Japanese researchers report a new method to detect life-related amino-acid forms using AI and nanotech, supporting future biosignature searches.

Climate & Weather: A developing Super El Niño could bring stronger, wider impacts across the Pacific, with forecasts pointing to major disruption for places like the U.S. Southwest and a reminder that extreme rainfall and drought patterns are getting harder to manage. Biodiversity & Nature: Japan’s marimo—velvety green algae balls in Hokkaidō’s Lake Akan—are facing habitat shifts as climate change alters lake conditions, raising concerns for the fragile natural monument. Wildlife Safety: A bear attack in Iwate captured on video shows how quickly encounters can turn deadly, with the incident highlighting the need for better preparedness during Japan’s bear “danger season.” Urban Environment: Tokyo residents are pushing for more tree cover as heat and “rain fatigue” intensify, arguing shade and greenery are becoming essential infrastructure. Energy & Infrastructure: Mitsui Fudosan plans a data center inside an underground tunnel in Kobe, aiming to reuse unused infrastructure while tackling above-ground construction challenges. Food & Farming: In the Philippines, a vineyard in Iriga City is thriving thanks to warm El Niño conditions, offering a small but telling example of how climate swings can reshape local agriculture.

Okinawa U.S. base crime: Japan’s prime minister called the alleged murder of a 39-year-old woman by a U.S. Marine in Naha a “heinous crime,” after police arrested the suspect over robbery-murder allegations, reigniting anger about the environmental and safety burdens of hosting about 70% of U.S. military facilities in Okinawa. Climate whiplash in Tokyo: Tokyo’s record 37-day rainy streak ended, with the Japan Meteorological Agency linking heavier downpours to climate change and El Niño-driven shifts in weather patterns. Rice pest spread: Rice stink bugs are now confirmed in 37 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, with experts warning global warming may help them survive winters and expand habitat, threatening harvests. Bear season warning: Gunma Prefecture reported a poor acorn crop and urged caution as bears become more likely to wander into human areas, publishing a “bear sighting map.” Green industry push: TERI and Transition Asia released a study on making hydrogen-based green steel viable in Andhra Pradesh, focusing on H₂-DRI costs, renewable power needs, CBAM impacts, and policy steps. Carbon-neutral manufacturing: Toyota says its Deeside plant in Wales will become its first carbon-neutral production site outside Japan, using renewable power and waste-to-biomethane to cut emissions. Wildlife and health: A report on cats shot to death in Hawaii highlights ongoing concerns about impacts on wildlife and public health from free-roaming cats.

Urban Heat & Trees: Tokyo residents are pushing for more shade as tree cover shrinks, warning that hotter summers are worsening health risks. Wildlife Conflict: Japan is entering “bear danger season” after record bear-attack fatalities, with local governments stepping up training and prevention as sightings near homes rise. Climate Science: A researcher explains how the chilly Yamase wind can swing summer conditions, using new ocean-atmosphere measurements to track rapid temperature changes. Biodiversity & Land Use: A Tokyo court case over a wind farm highlights how environmental objectives for species like freshwater pearl mussels and kingfishers are being weighed against project approvals. Energy Transition: Sri Lanka secured ADB and EU/Japan grants for rooftop solar plus virtual net metering, aiming to modernize grid control and expand clean power access. Mercury Pollution: Scientists and policymakers gathered in India for a major mercury conference tied to the Minamata Convention, focusing on monitoring and next-step action. Cultural Heritage: Meiji University returned Indigenous remains held on campus, marking a rare voluntary return by a Japanese university.