Tokyo, 26 April, 2021 – In response to Honda’s announcement to shift new car sales to electric vehicles (EV) and fuel cell vehicles (FCV) by 2040 [1], Greenpeace Japan published a statement to welcome the new policy. Honda is the first Japanese automaker to announce that it will discontinue all internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, including hybrid vehicles and replace them with EVs and FCVs.
Hisayo Takada, Programme Director at Greenpeace Japan, said:
“Greenpeace welcomes Honda’s new president Toshihiro Mibe promised to move from gasoline cars to EVs and FCVs. We also acknowledge its policy to work on the three pillars of carbon neutrality, clean energy, and resource circulation in order to achieve zero environmental impact in the life cycle of not only its products but also its corporate activities.
However, the climate crisis requires the acceleration of these steps further and faster. Phase out all fossil fuel based cars, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids needs to be brought earlier by 2028 [2]. Considering the race to the top of the cleanest mobility is ever heated globally, it is not only for the climate but also for the competitiveness of Japanese auto companies. We will keep closely watching on Japanese automakers including Honda and are willing to work with them if they are truly committed to transforming this important industry into genuinely sustainable and circular.”
Greenpeace and other NGOs based in Japan, US, and Australia sent an open letter to Japanese automakers on 16 April in order to ask their stance on increasing Japan’s emission reduction target and renewable energy production [3] [4].
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[1] Honda News Release (23 April)
[2] Greenpeace press release (Sept 2018)
[3] Greenpeace press release (16 April, Japanese)
[4] Answers from automakers