#Japan #Tokyo #Carbon Credits #Green Carbon #GX Promotion

Green Carbon Inc. and Its New Initiative

Green Carbon Inc. (CEO: Jun Okita), a company specializing in nature-based carbon credits, has recently announced its acceptance into the "Global South GX Promotion Project." This initiative, funded by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Environmental Public Corporation, aims to enhance decarbonization efforts while promoting green transformation (GX) technologies offered by local businesses to international markets.

The company's new project will utilize agricultural byproducts like rice husks in the Philippines to produce and implement biochar and biofuels. This project is part of a broader response to pressing environmental and energy challenges anticipated in developing countries in the Global South, which are expected to face a surge in energy demands.

Project Overview

The "Global South GX Promotion Project" is designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Tokyo in deploying their advanced GX-related technologies abroad, particularly in regions facing significant energy and environmental hurdles. Through this program, Green Carbon aims to contribute to sustainable economic development in local communities, fostering business growth and international expansion while advancing decarbonization efforts in Tokyo.

Financial Support and Duration

• - Subsidy: Up to 1 billion yen for master plan development and feasibility studies; up to 300 million yen for practical implementation, excluding costs of the master plan and feasibility studies.
• - Subsidy Rate: 50%, with a higher rate of 66% available for small and medium enterprises.
• - Project Duration: 3 years.

Details regarding this initiative can be found on the official project website.

The Background of the Project Acceptance

Green Carbon is already engaged in creating nature-derived carbon credits predominantly across Southeast Asia, executing projects like forest conservation, rice paddy management, and mangrove planting. By leveraging spatial data for project planning and monitoring, the company ensures efficient and transparent operations tailored to the unique natural resources of each region.

The organization's current focus in the Philippines includes the implementation of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) technology to reduce methane emissions from rice paddies. Under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), which promotes bilateral credits between Japan and the Philippines, the methodology for this initiative was recently approved in early February 2025. This project will reprocess agricultural materials into biochar and biofuels and aims to visualize carbon fixation while reconstructing agricultural practices through a circular model. The generated biochar and biofuels will also be utilized within Tokyo, transforming reduced CO2 emissions into carbon credits that contribute to Tokyo's decarbonization goals. The recognition of these objectives led to the project's acceptance.

A Unique Production Process

The project will adopt a technique that combines low-temperature carbonization with simultaneous fermentation, enabling both biochar and non-food-derived bioethanol to be produced from the abundant rice husks typically generated in the Philippines. This method not only emphasizes carbon fixation and resource circulation but also promotes renewable energy supply, constructing a triple model for Green Transformation.

By integrating biochar with AWD technology, this initiative will significantly lower methane emissions from rice fields, improve soil health, and enhance agricultural yields while reducing fertilizer use. Furthermore, the produced bioethanol has the potential to supply domestic biofuels, aligning with the Philippine government's E10 policy promoting a 10% ethanol blend in fuels, thereby boosting energy independence.

To solidify this effort, Green Carbon will establish a measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) system to ensure rigorous tracking and transparency. Collaborations with local governments and educational institutions will help forge a local circular model supported by farmers, contributing to carbon credit generation and regional benefits. After the support period concludes, plans are in place to transition into a locally operated business to ensure sustainability and scalability. Additionally, the organization intends to replicate this project model across Asia, aiming for far-reaching impacts beyond the Philippines.

Green Carbon Inc. Overview

• - CEO: Jun Okita
• - Location: 2-3-2 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 9F Hanzomon PREX North
• - Founded: December 2019
• - Business Activities: Carbon credit creation and sales, agricultural-related services, environmental consulting, and ESG consulting.
• - Website: Green Carbon Inc.

Green Carbon operates under the vision of "Saving the Earth with the Power of Life," providing comprehensive support for the creation, registration, and sale of nature-derived carbon credits both domestically and internationally. They are expanding to territories across Southeast Asia, Australia, and South America. With the recognition of its projects and expansion into various fields, Green Carbon is set to become an influential player in the global decarbonization landscape.