Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Law, regulation and treaties · Malaysia · 2026–2030

Japan plans cross-border CO2 storage in Malaysia by 2030

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
  • The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
What the record lacks: 4 none on record · 1 not measured See the gaps

Japan plans to store 20 million tonnes of CO2 a year by 2030 at nine sites, some in Malaysia, and to count the stored tonnes against its own emissions. Malaysia is to receive a per-tonne fee that has not yet been set, and Friends of the Earth Japan calls the arrangement 'carbon colonialism'.

What?
Japan plans to store CO2 at nine sites, some in Malaysia, reaching 20 million tonnes a year by 2030, AP reported. AP
Where?
Nine planned sites, some in Malaysia AP
When?
Planned by 2030; reported on 17 February 2026 AP
Who?
Gained
  • Japan — Could count the stored tonnes against its own emissions AP
  • Malaysia — Is to receive a per-tonne fee not yet set AP
Lost
None on record
Harmed
None on record
Why?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
Cross-border storage, with stored tonnes counted against Japan's emissions. AP
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

AP reported in February 2026 that Japan plans to store 20 million tonnes of CO2 a year by 2030, about 2% of its annual emissions, at nine sites, some in Malaysia.

Japan could deduct the stored tonnes from its own emissions, and Malaysia is to be paid a per-tonne fee that has not been set.

Friends of the Earth Japan called the arrangement 'carbon colonialism'.

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Record

    • None on record The sources reviewed do not say whether Japan's deduction arrangement is accepted under international carbon accounting rules.
    • None on record A figure of $1.1 billion linked to Petronas storage is not explained in the sources reviewed.
    • None on record Which of the nine sites are in Malaysia, and the storage method and monitoring rules, are not stated.
    • None on record Harm to local communities in Malaysia is not reported in the sources reviewed.

    Did the harm stop?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Who paid?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Sources

    Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers

    Press and investigations

    Connected cases

    Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.
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