During the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, it was decided that member states should try to triple the amount of renewable energy worldwide by 2030, double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency and move away from fossil fuels in the long term. The assessment of the results of COP28 was mixed: Some see the decisions taken as a positive sign of the end of the fossil fuel era, while others consider them insufficient in view of the continuing rise in global CO₂ emissions and average temperatures.

Against this background, experts from the German-Japanese Transition Council (GJETC) met in Berlin over the past two days to discuss the two countries' goals and measures to promote renewable energy and improve energy efficiency. Germany and Japan are striving not only to conserve their natural resources, but also to take into account the requirements of energy security, economic reliability and social sustainability. Dr. Stefan Thomas, Co-Chair of the GJETC on the German side and Director of the Energy, Transport and Climate Policy Division at the Wuppertal Institute, emphasised the importance of partnerships in order to achieve the COP28 goals.

The participants at the GJETC Council meeting discussed the results of the latest studies. In addition to the question of how flexibility can be stimulated in the electricity market, the experts discussed more effective energy efficiency policies. Finally, the Council discussed a comparison of Germany's and Japan's green industrial policies. The Council meeting took place on 14 and 15 February at the Japanese Embassy in Berlin.

The Wuppertal Institute, together with ECOS, is coordinating the Council's work as secretariat in Germany, while the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) is taking on this task on the Japanese side.