SFOCフィード

Hormuz blockade exposes risks of #fossilfuel dependency in 🇰🇷 South Korea &  🇯🇵 Japan      📈 Conflict-driven disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint in the global oil and gas trade, are making waves across East Asia, exposing the structural vulnerabilities of a fossil fuel-based energy system highly exposed to geopolitical supply shocks. For South Korea and Japan, where ~70% and ~90% of crude oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, skyrocketing #oil and #gas prices are directly impacting both refiners and downstream players like the petrochemical industry as freight rates surge, vessels are stranded, and industrial disruptions ripple across the economy.    The collapse of war-risk #insurance has led to rising premiums, with LNG carrier rates surging by 650% to around $300,000 per day. South Korea’s major refiners are shelling out record amounts to secure emergency charters, while in Japan, authorities have released 170 days of strategic oil reserves.    The latest issue brief by Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) argues shocks like the Hormuz blockade reveal the dangers of a self-reinforcing cycle of investment-driven fossil fuel dependence. Over the past 11 years, South Korea directed $97 billion more to fossil fuels than renewables; Japan, $68.5 billion more. These gaps could have supported an estimated 100 GW of solar in Korea and 70 GW in Japan, generating substantial long-term savings.     LNG investment heightens exposure to geopolitical risks, drives price spikes, and shifts costs to consumers – only to be used to justify further investment, deepening dependence and vulnerability. The current crisis reiterates the need for public finance to shift towards renewable energy, not simply to reduce emissions, but as a matter of establishing increasingly elusive energy security.     🔎 Read the full issue brief here: https://lnkd.in/gvjuWVtz  🔎 Read the press release here: https://lnkd.in/gKMsR2iD    #ClimateAction #EnergySecurity #FossilFuels #FossilFuelPhaseOut #LNG #StraitofHormuz #SFOC

🚢 🌊 #SouthKorea making waves in green #shipping legislation ⚖️      The shipping sector accounts for roughly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is a critical #trade lifeline for South Korea, where 99.7% of import and export cargo is transported by sea.       ⚖️ Yesterday, on March 12, Korea's National Assembly passed the Green Shipping Corridor Support Act, laying important groundwork for expanding green vessel operations, #port infrastructure transition, technological #innovation and strengthening international cooperation.       Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) welcomes this latest development, which underscores the strategic importance of reducing shipping emissions, taking a critical step in aligning global and national-level maritime decarbonization efforts.      🔑 Key Highlights    🔹 Establishment of a Green Shipping Corridor Support Council supporting the development and operation of green shipping corridors.    🔹 A new 5-year Master Plan for GSC development by the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries  🔹 New legal basis for workforce training, research and development (R&D) and international cooperation initiatives aimed at accelerating maritime decarbonization.      ⚠️ However, concerningly, the Act's broadened definition of "green vessels" opens loopholes for possible inclusion of low-carbon fuels like LNG and bio-LNG, which may risk continued fossil fuel lock-in and a delayed transition to zero-carbon alternatives.     Moving forward, a decisive shift toward zero-carbon fuels and renewable-based propulsion systems is critical for delivering genuine climate outcomes and accelerating the transition to zero-carbon maritime transport 💪 🌏 🌱      ➡️ Read SFOC’s statement here: https://lnkd.in/gpbjhs78     #ClimateAction #IMO #MaritimeDecarbonization #SFOC #GreenShipping

After a brief hiatus, Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) is pleased to announce the return of the official Asia Climate Solutions newsletter! Following on from our in-depth coverage of #COP30, ACS will continue to bring readers succinct analysis of major climate policy developments and events across the Asia-Pacific. In our first edition for the year 2026, we reflect on major climate developments and policy shifts which took place throughout 2025, highlighting Asia's shifting role from a mere participant in multilateral talks to an emerging hub influencing the global trajectory towards a just energy transition amid the current vacuum in global climate leadership.   The Highlights: 🌐 Climate multilateralism shapeshifts post-COP30, with the Asia-Pacific a key player in “coalitions of the willing” driving climate action amid a fragmented UNFCCC system    🪞 The Asia-Pacific juggles dual identity of fossil fuel giant and clean energy leader as global climate leadership vacuum looms    ⚖️ Pacific SIDS like Vanuatu set new precedents for legal accountability on climate, adding new teeth to calls for a full phaseout of fossil fuels    📍 APAC emerges as a new global hub for climate action, leveraging comparative advantage in renewable energy and clean technologies to accelerate global energy transition Stay tuned to this space for all things #ACS!   #AsiaClimateSolutions #APAC #ClimateAction #COP31 #SIDS #SFOC