UK and Japan to work together on energy security

The UK and Japan will work closely together on energy security issues and are aiming to maximise the opportunities presented by the $5 trillion global low carbon market.

The two countries released a joint statement on Thursday to mark a two day visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (pictured right) to the UK, which highlights the potential for British and Japanese companies to take advantage of the burgeoning low carbon goods and services market.

"We share the view that without ambitious national and international action, climate change represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to current and future generations and the planet," the statement says. "We also recognise the huge economic opportunities of moving to a low carbon economy as a new driver of growth and jobs, and for greater security of energy supply."

The agreement comes at a crucial time with countries due to agree legally binding emissions reduction targets at the pivotal 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris and the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey, said, "I hugely value our partnership with Japan and am pleased to continue to work together to secure a global climate change deal in 2015 and support the global transition to a low carbon economy."

The UK and Japan are already collaborating on clean energy and energy efficiency projects and an agreement was reached in March with the Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) that will see 600 next generation air-source heat pumps fitted into Greater Manchester properties.

Davey went on to say, "The UK and Japan both recognise the importance of investing in a diverse and clean energy mix in order to ensure a competitive economy, long-term security of supply and avoid dangerous climate change.”