3. Creating a city-led model for a sustainable world

In the face of the climate change crisis, cities, which are major consumers of energy, must work to create a model for a sustainable world.

Accelerating steps toward decarbonization

With the understanding and cooperation of many citizens and businesses, next fiscal year, Tokyo will become the first local government in Japan to begin mandating the installation of solar power generation systems in newly built homes and buildings. Environmental technologies are evolving at a rapid pace and driving fierce global competition. One such technology is a next-generation solar cell that is thin, light, and bendable. We have installed these solar cells in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building South Observatory, a JKK Tokyo public housing facility, and, most recently, the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal. It is precisely because this technology will continue to develop that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is taking the lead in promoting its visibility and accelerating its social application, in order to forge a path toward a power-generating city of the future.

In March, the world’s premier racing series for electric cars, Formula E, took place in Tokyo. Building on the momentum generated by the event, we will strive to turn zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), which contribute to decarbonization, into a mainstay of mobility. Charging infrastructure will play an essential role in achieving that goal. For some time now, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has supported the installation of charging equipment in locations such as homes. We will newly set up rapid chargers on public roads in two locations, by Tokyo Station and near Zojoji Temple, and study the installation of even more chargers. Through various measures, including offering support for establishing more multi-energy stations with charging equipment and other features, we will work to create an environment conducive to the widespread adoption of ZEVs.

Furthermore, regarding Tokyo Waterfront City, a model area for sustainable urban development, we will formulate a new strategy through public-private partnerships, aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. In conjunction with this effort, the Yurikamome Line, which serves as a backbone of transportation in the area, will operate on 100 percent green energy beginning in August. We will also work closely with businesses to advance decarbonization in the commercial sector, including offices, which accounts for approximately 90 percent of carbon emissions in the area.

Boldly striving to popularize hydrogen energy, the trump card for decarbonization

Tokyo has been a global pioneer in the push to realize a hydrogen society. Strategic measures that integrate supply and demand are essential in expanding the use of hydrogen energy. While vigorously advancing the social application of fuel cell trucks and garbage trucks, we will also work to introduce hydrogen-powered airport ground support vehicles to stimulate the demand for hydrogen in the coastal area around Haneda Airport, which is the gateway to Japan and a prime location for publicizing our efforts to the world. A hydrogen-powered hybrid train is currently being test run by the East Japan Railway Company and others on the Nambu Line, and it has been decided that this train will be also tested within Tokyo. Through these efforts and more, we will first focus on expanding the utilization of hydrogen in commercial sectors, which are able to greatly leverage the strengths of hydrogen energy.

We must also develop a supply chain for hydrogen. We have newly established a council to study the establishment of a supply system for hydrogen, including pipelines, in preparation for using green hydrogen received from overseas. With private companies, local governments, and other organizations engaged in hydrogen projects in the coastal area around Haneda Airport, we will draw up a roadmap for the future. Last month, Japan’s first hydrogen station located inside a truck terminal began operations on the artificial island of Heiwajima in Ota-ku. We will continue to look to the future and advance these kinds of pioneering initiatives.

Building momentum for the Tokyo Green Biz Movement

Urban development prioritizing economy and efficiency is a thing of the past. Now, Tokyo is continuing to evolve even further as a city brimming with greenery. Recent large-scale private-sector development projects have generated a total of over 60,000 square meters of green space, and the total area of metropolitan parkland newly constructed during my tenure in office is equivalent to that of approximately seven Tokyo Domes. We will protect, nurture, and utilize our greenery. In order to pass down a comfortable and relaxing city rich in greenery to future generations, we will bring together all societal actors, from Tokyo residents to Tokyo’s municipalities and businesses, and build Tokyo Green Biz into a large-scale movement. The base of the movement will be the Green Biz Map, which we will use to disseminate information on Tokyo’s parks and other lush, green locations in an easy-to-understand way. We plan to enhance the map in stages, such as by adding features that will increase citizens’ interest in greenery. Additionally, through the application of urban redevelopment systems, which have been revised to include changes such as higher standards for the green coverage ratio in the Tokyo Bay area, we will effectively guide the enhancement of greenery achieved through private-sector development projects.

We will also promote coexistence with plants, animals, and nature as a whole. We have expanded our target for designated nature conservation areas, which contain verdant environments, to 1,000 hectares, and last month, we newly established the Tokyo Metropolitan Center for Biodiversity as a hub for cooperation and collaboration with the municipalities in Tokyo and volunteers. We also aim to use the nationwide Mountain Day celebration in August as an opportunity to foster understanding about green urban development, the central theme of Tokyo Green Biz.