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YOKOHAMA – Thursday, August 7, 2008 – On July 29, the City of Yokohama was presented with a certificate from the Japanese government, recognizing it as an Environmental Model City playing a leading role in the prevention of global warming in Japan, not least due to the city’s efforts to substantially reduce greenhouse gases.
Mayor of Yokohama Hiroshi Nakada issued the following statement: “Certification will lend extra weight to our efforts to come up with forward-thinking environmental measures as a city focused on environmental action, in the eyes of everyone from individual citizens to companies. We will continue to actively push ahead with bold initiatives aimed at achieving sustained reductions in greenhouse gases so that we may serve as an example to other local authorities, the Japanese government and other countries.”
The aim of the Environmental Model City scheme is to enable Japan to lead the way forward within the international community as a low-carbon society producing minimal CO2 emissions. As part of the scheme, the Japanese government selects proposals submitted by cities working on ambitious, pioneering initiatives geared towards achieving lofty targets, including substantial reductions in greenhouse gases. From the 82 proposals submitted by municipalities throughout Japan during the submission period from April 11 to May 21, the government granted certification to a total of six public bodies*1 including the City of Yokohama.
The City of Yokohama put forward wide-ranging independent plans revolving primarily around efforts to achieve a 40% reduction in household greenhouse gas emissions by fiscal 2025 (compared to fiscal 2004, an equivalent reduction of 2.6 million tons of CO2), a relatively high target compared to the national average, and the establishment of Yokohama Green Power, an entity whose aim is to increase the use of renewable energy to at least ten times current levels (an equivalent reduction of 2 million tons of CO2).
In addition to its independent plans, the City of Yokohama has also placed a firm emphasis on cooperation, including a project to create a local government coalition to combat global warming in conjunction with 50 cities nationwide. The city also continues to promote activities aimed at expanding the scope of its accumulated environmental technology through independently established networks with the likes of international organizations and cities in other countries, including The Regional Network of Local Authorities for the Management of Human Settlements*2 and the United Nations University’s Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) initiative*3.
*1 About the Certification of Environmental Model City
The proposals submitted by local authorities as part of the Environmental Model City scheme had to satisfy five selection criteria (1: large scale greenhouse gas reduction targets, 2: pioneering/model credentials, 3: local adaptability, 4: feasibility, 5: sustainability) in order to be certified by the Japanese government. Yokohama (Kanagawa prefecture) and Kitakyushu (Fukuoka prefecture) were certified in the large city category, Obihiro (Hokkaido) and Toyama (Toyama prefecture) in the major provincial city category and Shimokawa (Hokkaido) and Minamata (Kumamoto prefecture) in the small municipality category, making a total of six Model Environmental Cities.
The certified cities will draw up five-year action plans running from fiscal 2009 to 2013 and implement initiatives accordingly. In addition to providing essential funding and other support on a priority basis, the government will also carry out a range of measures and publish information in line with the action plans in an effort to broaden initiatives both domestically and internationally.
*2 CITYNET (The Regional Network of Local Authorities for the Management of Human Settlements)
A non-profit international organization devotes to bring together cities and organizations in the Asia Pacific region in finding solutions to urban problems through mutual cooperation. Established in 1987, CITYNET currently maintains a membership of 70 cities and 42 organizations. The City of Yokohama acts as the president city and hosts the secretariat of CITYNET. The city plays a major role in various fields such as technical assistance regarding garbage management waterworks to Asian cities; and promoting environmental education.
*3 Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
The Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) scheme is run by the United Nations University, which has certified 47 regions around the world as RCE (as of January 2008), including Barcelona, Toronto and Beijing. The worldwide RCE network helps promote activities in each region by enabling participants to share details of successful initiatives and common issues.
In April 2006, Yokohama was certified by the United Nations University as the world’s 11th RCE. Since then, the City of Yokohama has continued to further activities in conjunction with universities, government bodies, NGOs, NPOs, schools, companies and other organizations active in the fields of environmental education and ESD in an effort to create a better regional environment for future generations.
【Inquiries】 Climate Change Policy Division TEL: 045-671-4108