3. Evolving into the world’s city of choice

I will now speak about our key policies. With the lack of global leadership in the “G-zero” world, coined by political scientist Ian Bremmer, the international situation is in chaos and uncertainty continues to grow. Even amid such circumstances, the world’s cities, which have the mission to protect the lives of their citizens, must find solutions to life-threatening global scale issues through, at times, cooperation, and at other times, competition. The climate crisis is a prime example. I myself serve as the Vice Chair of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. While also working with such global networks, Tokyo will lead the global trend for carbon neutrality and raise our presence in this chaotic world.

Leading the world in decarbonization efforts

Under the agreement reached at COP26 last year, the world has begun racing toward the “1.5°C” goal. Countries are each raising ambitious targets one after another, but what really matters is their implementation of measures. This year will be a test of how serious they are about achieving their targets. We have already announced our goal of halving carbon emissions by 2030, which we call “carbon-half.” While valuing “empathy,” which leads to actions by individuals, we will fundamentally strengthen all measures and devote our full resources to taking on this challenge.

Powerful promotion of zero-emission homes

First, we will focus even more on efforts for zero emissions from buildings, especially in the residential sector. We will amend ordinances, and strengthen and expand systems under these ordinances. In the next Master Plan for housing policy, the transition to zero emissions in residential areas has been raised as a top priority. In addition to expanding various subsidies, such as for the insulation of doors and windows, and the installation of solar panels and storage batteries, we will also boost the environmental performance of metropolitan housing and other public housing. Moreover, the whole metropolitan government will be united in efforts to powerfully promote the transition to energy-saving houses that use renewable energy. This includes initiatives to further increase "Tokyo zero-emission houses," which are friendly to both people and the planet, through the introduction of a real estate acquisition tax exemption that could be as high as full exemption, and the roll out of an effective PR campaign in conjunction with an increase in subsidies and a tax system to promote renovations to raise earthquake resistance.

Accelerating the transition to zero emission vehicles

Next, regarding zero emission vehicles. So that people would want to use ZEVs more, we will promote their use from the aspects of both mobility and infrastructure. We will provide bus operators who install hydrogen stations that can also be used by regular vehicles with additional grants for the introduction of fuel cell buses, which will reduce their out-of-pocket expenses to almost zero. In addition, regarding EV (electric vehicle) chargers, not only will we accelerate their installation in metropolitan-owned facilities, but we will also promote the distribution of super-fast chargers that can fully charge EVs in a short period of time, and begin providing subsidies for their installation in detached houses. Through such measures, we will work to expand both the quality and quantity of EV chargers, and strongly support the popularity of ZEVs.

Protecting Tokyo’s green spaces

We will not only reduce CO2 emissions, but also promote the conservation of greenery as a carbon sink. In order to overcome the "2022 issue" concerning designated productive green areas, we will actively support the wards and cities that maintain green spaces. In addition, it would be indispensable to nurture the next generation of farmers to ensure that farmland will continue to be handed down. We will unearth a broad range of next generation farmers, including those who are new to farming, those who are looking for farmland, and those who are interested in farming as a side business, in order to develop and maintain Tokyo's unique agricultural industry.

It is also important to foster "empathy" for the preservation of nature by bringing people closer to the rich natural environment that remains in Tokyo, such as the beautiful satoyama landscape and the bounties of biodiversity it provides. We will promote specific studies on the concept of a digital museum that will use the latest technologies to send out information on Tokyo’s attractive natural environment.

The power of finance to create a virtuous cycle of the environment and economy

The notion that environmental measures hinder the economy is now a thing of the past. Rather, the promotion of world-leading environmental policies will bring about technological innovations and new demand that will open up the future, leading to a sustainable and strong economy. Creating a virtuous cycle of the environment and the economy is an important growth strategy for the coming era.

What will ensure this virtuous cycle is the power of finance. In order to make green finance take root, we will work to attract foreign financial companies and accelerate investments and loans for the expansion of renewable energy. From the next fiscal year, we will establish a fund to promote decarbonization innovation by startups and other companies, and foster a market environment that supports bold challenges. In addition, we will clear the path to becoming the world’s international financial city of choice, such as by invigorating "impact investment," which aims to strike a balance between social issue solutions and economic benefits.

Raise the earning power of SMEs and place the economy on track to growth

To put Tokyo's economy on a strong growth trajectory, we will accelerate the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which support Tokyo's industrial base and are the source of its earning power. We will strongly encourage capital investment in robotics, AI, and other cutting-edge technologies for the creation of new business models. At the same time, we will generate innovation after innovation in situations ranging from business development that looks to expand globally, to more familiar scenes from our everyday lives, such as promoting initiatives taken by shopping street associations that wish to turn the changes they are confronting in consumer needs into opportunities by leveraging digital transformation.

In order to fully draw out the power of digital technologies, it would be essential to have people who can skillfully manipulate them. Along with implementing intensive and specialized vocational training programs to produce talent who will shoulder cutting-edge IT fields, large-scale match-up events will be held to encourage a shift of human resources to the digital sector. We will also actively roll out digital transformation reskilling support to nurture key persons who can generate change within their companies.

Support for startups, which will lead the way in innovation, will also be strengthened. We will provide consistent support from the formulation of intellectual property strategies to the acquisition of patents and other intellectual property rights, to ensure that their original technologies and ideas, which are their greatest strengths, can be used aggressively and boldly in the arena of international competition.

Furthermore, in order for SMEs to continue their sustainable growth, we will reinforce comprehensive support systems such as gathering together support functions such as human resource development and marketing development, and promoting the creation of new value by linking them to a diversity of actors.

A tourism destination that people want to visit again and again

We will also work for revitalization of the tourism industry, which is an essential part of Tokyo's growth strategy. With our eyes on the coming recovery in tourism demand, we have recently formulated a new action plan. Along with grasping the changes in traveler needs and establishing a style for the new age that adopts cutting-edge technology, we will also promote sustainable tourism that is friendly to the local communities and the environment, and other initiatives in order to become a tourist destination that attracts the world and a city that people want to visit again and again.

Unleashing the potential of the waterfront area

The potential of the waterfront area, which became the focus of the world's attention because of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is one of Tokyo's great strengths. The Tokyo Bay eSG Project, which aims to use this attractive area to stage the creation of a model for a sustainable city that leads the world, will finally launch its first projects in the coming fiscal year. An enormous field for the implementation of technologies will be created in the Central Breakwater area, projecting a future full of hope that will inspire all who see these futuristic developments. At the same time, we will launch city planning and other procedures early next fiscal year for the extension of “Subway Line No. 8” between Toyosu and Sumiyoshi and the development of the “Shinagawa Subway Line.” We will work toward the early implementation of these projects in order to further improve the attractiveness of the waterfront area.

Become a truly global city

Efforts will also be made to further heighten Tokyo's presence in the international community. The city of Edo had established a circular economy and cultivated an original culture. The future image for Tokyo, which inherited and developed this progressive spirit of Edo, will be sent out to the world using digital technology to present an urban model that can serve as a role model for the world. We will also create an environment where English can be used as the de facto standard in order to build a Tokyo where various players, including overseas companies and investors, can gather and play an active role. We will make the leap to become a truly global city with diverse attractions that draw the world, and where new value is created through fusion with different cultures.