News | Green Local Government Portal

International Symposium "Tokyo Local Renewables and Climate 2009" is held on Oct. 3rd.

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:42:47 +0900

Tokyo Local Renewables and Climate 2009

-An International Symposium on Local Renewable Energy and Climate Policy-

October 3rd, 2009, 10:30 - 17:30
At U Thant International Conference Hall, United Nations University

This symposium will provide participants with an opportunity to learn about　local policy approaches to promoting renewable energy and reducing　greenhouse gas emissions. It will feature local officials and experts　from Japan and from cities around the world. It will address questions　like: What can be done at the local level? How can we inspire and　encourage political leadership at the city level? How do national policies help cities take action? How can renewable energy and energy efficiency be integrated into city planning? Come and see why　leadership at the local level is critical for renewable energy and　climate!

Japanese Local Governments Revising their Basic Plans for Greenery Promotion

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:48:52 +0900

Japanese local governments that have adopted a "Master Plan for Parks and Open Spaces" are now in the process of revising them. With the amendment of the Urban Green Space Conservation Law in 1994, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism established a planning system in which local governments draw up master plans for green space conservation and greenery promotion. As of March 2005, 772 municipalities throughout Japan completed the revision of their plans or were revising them. The revisions were necessary after the end of the initial target period for objectives set in the original master plans, and also in response to the growing societal awareness of environmental issues in recent years. Generally, municipalities will be holding public meetings and revising their plans during a two-to-three year period. The following are some of the municipalities working on revisions.

Kodaira City of the Tokyo metropolitan region is seeking comments and suggestions on the draft of the revised green master plan.
Kashiwa City in Chiba Prefecture revised its green master plan in June 2009.
Yokosuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture plans to review the draft of the revised plan and establish a new green master plan in fiscal 2009.
Fukuoka City in Fukuoka Prefecture is inviting public comments on the draft of its new green master plan.
Gifu City in Gifu Prefecture is seeking comments and suggestions on the draft of its new green master plan.

Kanagawa Prefectural Council Passes Ordinance to Promote Global Warming Measures

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:46:14 +0900

Kanagawa prefectural council passed an ordinance to promote global warming countermeasures at a regular meeting in June 2009. The ordinance incorporates the global warming control program for business activities of large businesses and the same kind of program for large buildings, as highly effective programs taking the region's characteristics into consideration. Under the program for business activities, large businesses that consume at least 1,500 kiloliters of energy (in crude oil equivalent) or use 100 or more cars a year will be required to submit their planning report describing their voluntary reduction target for greenhouse gas emissions and their emission reduction measures. The planning reports will be made public by the prefecture. This program is expected to come into force at a date specified by another rule, at least half a year apart, to make the program better known. Provisions that are not mandatory will become effective on July 1, 2009.

Tokyo Holds Meetings for Businesses to Explain Full-Scale Launch of Emission Trading System

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:42:50 +0900

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has held meetings for businesses concerned to explain the full-scale launch of its emission trading system. This system, scheduled to begin in fiscal 2010, will require large businesses located in Tokyo, such as those consuming at least 1,500 kiloliters of energy (in oil equivalent) a year, to reduce their total greenhouse gas emissions. Under the system, if a company does not achieve its target reduction within five years, it is required to offset the balance by means of emission trading. The meetings were held four times, and a total of 5,000 people participated. At the meetings, the metropolitan government explained criteria to determine target businesses, methods to set emission standards, and details of the emission trading system as a means of implementing mandatory total emission reductions. Tokyo also plans to improve guidelines for emission calculations, etc., and begin a new system to register certification bodies. In addition, it will also launch a program targeted at a total of 690,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Tokyo, under which they will voluntarily report their measures against global warming.

Kitamoto City to Become First Municipality to Participate in Japan's Voluntary Emissions Trading Scheme

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:39:45 +0900

Kitamoto City in Saitama Prefecture will participate in the fifth phase of Japan's Voluntary Emissions Trading Scheme, led by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), in order to accelerate the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and accumulate knowledge in domestic CO2 emissions trading. This is the first time that a municipality will participate in this scheme. The city aims to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted at 32 facilities, such as the government office buildings, cultural centers, public halls, school meal facilities and nursery schools, by 21 tons (equivalent to one percent of the average annual emissions of 2,023 tons in the assigned base years) in fiscal 2010. Under this MOE-led emissions trading scheme, participants set their own reduction targets and work on achieving them. If they reduce emissions beyond their targets, or cannot meet the targets, they are allowed the flexibility of trading emission allowances with each other. Currently, CO2 emission credits are traded at around 1,250 yen (about U.S.$13) per ton in Japan. To date, a total of 222 businesses have signed on to this scheme. To achieve its goal, Kitamoto City plans to introduce highly-efficient lights, apply heat-exchanging coatings to the roofs of buildings, and promote energy conservation and other measures.

Hiroshima Prefecture Establishes Housing Loan System to Promote Local Wood Use

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:36:57 +0900

As a way of promoting the consumption of local wood and sustain the local forests and forest industry, Hiroshima Prefecture has established a low-interest housing loan system for homeowners using a certain amount of wood from forests in the prefecture, through joint work with private financial institutions. In the system, homeowners can receive loans from the institutions at lower than the usual interest rates, when they build, remodel, or make additions to their homes. Houses subject to this system include new homes with a floor area of at least a 55-square-meters and using at least 60 percent local wood as the main structural material; and existing homes using at least six cubic meters of local wood when remodeled. The work is to be done by companies in the prefecture that have been registered and approved by the local government. They are required to report the use of local wood for their work to the prefecture.

Tachikawa City Supports Eco-Friendly SMEs

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:35:01 +0900

With the aim of supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are active in addressing environmental problems, Tachikawa City of the Tokyo metropolitan region began to accept funding applications on June 1, 2009. By this system, the city helps SMEs receive loans from financial institutions for equipment and maintenance costs involved in their environmentally conscious initiatives, such as efforts to prevent global warming and pollution. Costs covered include expenses to purchase equipment to introduce renewable energy and energy-efficient appliances, to launch an environmental management system, and to promote low emission vehicles. The maximum loan is 15 million yen (about U.S.$157,895). On a posted interest rate of 1.975%, the city subsidizes 1.575% and the SME pays 0.4%.

Tottori Prefecture Invites Public Comment on Its 'Green New Deal' Policy

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:31:12 +0900

Tottori Prefecture has promoted the transformation of the local industrial structure and is attempting to attract businesses from other prefectures, based on its environmental initiatives. Tottori is now drawing up an original green new deal policy as a strategy to revitalize industry and create jobs in the prefecture. It plans to invite public comments until June 30, 2009.

Tokyo Becomes World's First Local Government Member of International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP)

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:02:42 +0900

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government became an official member of the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) on May 26, 2009, when Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara signed ICAP's political declaration of principles and objectives. Tokyo says that by joining ICAP it aims to:

(1) actively take part in debate about the creation of a global carbon market and contribute to the launch of a nationwide cap-and-trade system;
(2) assimilate knowledge on operations of existing cap and trade systems around the world through working-level talks, in order to operate Tokyo's cap-and-trade system more effectively; and
(3) introduce Tokyo's cap-and-trade system to the world as a model to create a low carbon society in large cities.