4. Demonstrating our vision for a zero-emissions city to tackle the climate crisis

With each passing year, the impacts of the climate crisis are intensifying. Cities will be the ones to lead the charge in addressing this issue that affects all of humanity. We will promptly put into action the bold strategy we have formulated to realize a Zero Emission Tokyo.

Becoming a global flagbearer by strategically promoting decarbonization

Accelerating the adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures

One key to mitigating climate change is the further decarbonization of our dense concentration of buildings and residences. We will raise the standards for certifying newly built homes as Tokyo Zero Emission Houses and strongly promote the construction of residences with even greater energy efficiency. Regarding existing homes, expansions made to the relevant subsidy program have led to a steady increase in the installation of storage batteries, which enable the maximum use of solar-generated power. In light of this trend, next fiscal year, we will greatly expand the size of the budget for the subsidy program, while also encouraging retrofitting for better thermal insulation. Additionally, we will further promote greater energy efficiency at small- and medium-sized facilities, such as through subsidizing the installation of heat pump systems that reuse thermal energy.

The greater utilization of renewable energies is vital for transforming Tokyo into a “power-generating city of the future.” We will vigorously push for the early adoption of perovskite solar cells and other next-generation renewable energy technologies that can accommodate Tokyo’s unique urban environment, which includes narrow spaces and strong winds generated by the presence of tall buildings. Furthermore, in addition to installing more large-scale storage batteries that connect directly to the power grid, we will also aim to stabilize energy supply and demand by offering new support for the introduction and growth of aggregation businesses, which bundle and effectively utilize distributed energy resources of households, offices, and other sources.

Advancing the decarbonization of businesses including SMEs

The individual efforts of businesses to reduce CO2 emissions is not enough; it is imperative that the entire supply chain work together. For small- and medium-sized enterprises that seek to pursue decarbonization as a collective group, we will offer support for measures including the introduction of systems to make emissions data visible and the upgrading of facilities to be more eco-friendly. Furthermore, in order to expand the number of air cargo transportation operators using SAF （sustainable aviation fuel）, we will seek to reduce the burden of extra costs shouldered by Tokyo-based businesses resulting from the use of the next-generation aviation fuel.

It is also vital that we stimulate the market for carbon credits. We will establish our own platform where businesses can easily trade domestic and international credits, with a target launch date in the coming fiscal year. We will also support the creation of credits not only for CO2 emissions reductions, but also for the removal and absorption of CO2.

Creating an environment to popularize ZEVs

Next month’s Formula E Tokyo E-Prix will mark the first time the world’s premier electric car race is held in Japan. Riding the tailwinds of the competition, we will advance the decarbonization of mobility. We will offer more generous support to popularize domestically produced electric trucks and electric buses. In addition to simultaneously backing the introduction of ZEVs （zero emission vehicles） and infrastructure such as EV chargers, we will also push forward with creating an environment conducive for popularizing eco-friendly mobility, such as by strongly supporting the installation of regular charging equipment.

Leading the world in realizing a hydrogen society

Energy transition is taking the world by storm. When I recently visited New South Wales, Australia, I witnessed firsthand how the dramatic transition from coal to hydrogen is taking place. Global competition is heating up around the use of hydrogen, which is considered the trump card for decarbonization. In order to make society sustainable and also turn hydrogen into a new growth sector for Japan, we must show our commitment to driving, rather than following, global trends. To realize a hydrogen society, we will strategically pursue efforts to “create,”　“transport,” and “use” hydrogen. On the artificial island of Keihinjima in Ota-ku, we will begin constructing a large-scale production base for green hydrogen, the first such facility in Tokyo. While aiming to begin preliminary operations of one hydrogen production unit within the next fiscal year, we will also study the construction of a second and third unit. In addition to working with SMEs and other partners to develop transport and storage technologies indispensable for the use of hydrogen, we will also study the construction of a network of pipelines to supply hydrogen received from overseas. We will work to greatly popularize the use of hydrogen from both the demand-side and the supply-side, including through the promotion of the societal adoption of commercial fuel cell vehicles such as trucks, as well as fuel cell garbage trucks of local municipalities.

Meanwhile, it is no exaggeration to say that the expansion of hydrogen use, which is in its infancy, depends on how well we can collaborate with the world. With the state of New South Wales, we have agreed to cooperate in advancing the societal adoption of hydrogen. We will also promote the formation of alliances with partners across the world, including the participating cities of the international hydrogen conference we held last fall, and work to establish a global supply chain. Regarding the creation of a hydrogen transaction platform that I announced at COP28, while collaborating with Germany’s H2Global Foundation, a world-leading institution promoting the use of hydrogen, we will advance the institutional design of this platform from an international perspective and begin transactions of domestically produced green hydrogen on a trial basis.