Climate groups condemned Japan's government support on fossil fuels based-technologies through a protest in Mendiola on Tuesday, coinciding the first day of the state visit of Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Asian People's Movement on Debt and Development (APMMD) campaigner Chadli Sadorra, claimed that Ishiba wants to sell fossil fuel-based technologies to the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. However, the group said these technologies are "false solutions to the climate crisis."

"Based on the studies of our group and scientists, it does not actually lessen the carbon dioxide emission. Rather, it gives reason for fossil fuel plants to continue burning emissions, as it was believed to be lessened be these technologies, which is not true," Sadorra said.

"It is condemned (by us), especially by the communities affected by the coal plants, because we understand that we cannot get any benefits from the agenda brought by Ishiba in his visit here in the Philippines," Sadorra added.

APMDD coordinator Lidy Nacpil, in a press release, slammed the Japan-led Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) for its promotion of fossil fuel-based technologies.

"AZEC is a bogus framework for Japan to sell fossil fuel technologies and profit from Asia's dependence on energy," Nacpil said.

Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) Public Policy Officer Ala Panganiban said this protest is important as they were joined by the sector directly affected by the climate crisis brought by big countries like Japan and the United States that continuously support fossil fuels, LNG, and other dirty energies. Kate Christian Ravelo/DMS