Japan
Citizens’ Committee on the Kobe Coal-Fired Power Plant v. Japan
Jurisdiction: Osaka District Court
Side A: Twelve Kobe residents (Individual)
Side B: Japanese government (Government)
Core objectives:
Families sought to block coal-fired units, compel government to regulate carbon dioxide emissions.
Summary
On November 19, 2018, twelve residents of the Japanese city of Kobe filed an administrative action against the government seeking more ambitious action on climate change. The plaintiffs asked the Osaka District Court to compel the government to cancel the notice of finalization of an environmental assessment of two new coal-fired units, which the plaintiffs allege would emit about 7 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. The plaintiffs also seek an order finding that the Government has unlawfully failed to establish regulatory standards consistent with the Paris Agreement.