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🗞️ Driving the news: Japan signed 70 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) related to energy transition with various partners during the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) ministerial meeting in Jakarta
• This move aligns with Japan's ongoing efforts to promote decarbonization in Asia through regional collaboration

🔭 The context: Proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in 2022, AZEC was established to facilitate cooperation among 11 countries, including Indonesia, Australia, and Vietnam, to push forward energy transition initiatives
• Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) is committing $1 billion to support 14 of these projects, focusing on sustainable energy solutions

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The MOUs represent a significant step toward decarbonization in Asia, a region heavily reliant on fossil fuels
• These agreements could accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies, reducing carbon emissions and fostering a sustainable energy market

⏭️ What's next: The focus will be on enhancing regional power grids, investing in new energy sources like hydrogen and ammonia, and promoting next-generation vehicles
• Japan and its partners will work together to implement these projects and drive the energy transition in the region

💬 One quote: “AZEC seeks to create a sustainable fuel market in the transportation sector in an effort to achieve energy transition in Asia,” said Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Ken Saito

📈 One stat: Japan's METI has allocated $1 billion to support 14 energy transition projects under these new MOUs

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