Kenny Kitamura

Mr. Kenny Kitamura is Chief Representative for the Middle East of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), based in Dubai. He covers 16 countries, including Gulf region, Pakistan and Egypt, promoting economic development and integration to bring shared prosperity. He led JBIC’s US$3billion ADNOC GREEN finance that significantly contributes to decarbonization as well as enhancing cooperation between UAE and Japan. Prior to taking the current position, he advanced his career mainly in project financing towards infrastructure projects, notably IPP and IWPPs in MENA region. Building up on his career in project finance, he served as Adjunct Professor at Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University. He earned Master of Business Administration from London Business School and Bachelor of Laws from KEIO University.

Session Overview

Thursday, 6 November

13:20

Decarbonisation Conference Room B 13:20 - 13:50

Decarbonisation policy crossroads: should governments fund producers or mandate consumers?

In 2025, the rollback of US Inflation Reduction Act incentives through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has reignited global debate on the long-term viability of subsidy-led decarbonisation. While early-stage support played a critical role in scaling low-carbon technologies, the fiscal and political sustainability of such models is under renewed scrutiny. Meanwhile, Europe and China are advancing demand-side mechanisms, such as at-the-pump obligations, green procurement mandates, and carbon intensity thresholds aimed at embedding decarbonisation in market rules rather than public budgets.

Debate positions:

Pro-subsidy:
Public funding is essential for early-stage deployment and investor confidence. Without stable subsidies, breakthrough tech like DAC, SAF, and industrial hydrogen face serious bankability hurdles.
Pro-demand obligation:
Long-term reliance on subsidies is unsustainable and politically fragile, as shown by the OBBBA. Mandating demand through policy ensures cost-sharing, reduces burden on taxpayers, and builds industrial resilience.

Attendee insights:

This debate unpacks the evolving global policy playbook: is future momentum best sustained through direct subsidies to derisk supply, or through regulation that forces market demand and shifts cost to end-users and industry? With public funds tightening and geopolitical competition rising, speakers will assess which mechanisms are delivering real industrial transformation.