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TOKYO
A City tackling
the climate
crisis head on
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The heatwaves and other natural disasters that have struck worldwide are further stark reminders that the climate crisis is the defining issue of our time and nothing less than an existential threat. As one of the world’s great metropolises, Tokyo is taking the issue seriously and taking serious action, with measures being put into effect across multiple sectors and a clear roadmap to a 50% cut in CO2 emissions by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050.
The Power of the Sun
Renewable energy is already at work in the city, and the distinctive Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) No.1 Building has been powered 100% by renewable sources since 2019. And from 2020, public high schools and multiple government buildings have also begun switching to renewables, with plans for all TMG facilities to be running on fully decarbonized electricity by 2030. By that time, the aim is to have half of the city’s entire electricity supply coming from renewables.
Recognizing that there is a pressing need for meaningful action, the city has set an interim ‘Carbon Half’ target of a 50% overall cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Buildings account for around 70% of Tokyo’s emissions, and TMG is focused on a comprehensive program of legislative and structural reforms that will reduce that percentage to zero.
TMG is strengthening and accelerating its efforts not only in response to climate breakdown, but also to ensure power stability against the backdrop of the global energy crisis.
The city is aiming to create a movement mobilizing citizens and businesses. A key initiative is the HTT (formed from the Japanese terms for ‘save’, ‘generate’, and ‘store’) campaign: promoting the reduction of electricity use in homes and businesses, and its generation and storage through the installation of solar power systems and batteries, as well as the use of ZEVs (Zero Emission Vehicles).
Measures such as insulating buildings with double-glazing, switching to energy-efficient appliances, using water-saving showerheads, keeping room temperatures at 28°C (82°F) in summer and 20°C (68°F) in winter, and turning off devices when not in use, will help cut electricity use and therefore CO2 emissions. To encourage citizens to switch to energy-saving appliances, TMG’s Tokyo Zero Emi Point program offers gift vouchers and coupons for LED lights in return for replacing energy-inefficient appliances. These measures will also ease the burden on the grid during peak times.
Saving, Generating and Storing Electricity
Japan is pioneering hydrogen as an energy source and the national strategy for its use was the first of its kind in the world when announced in 2017.
At the city level, TMG is promoting through its “Tokyo Hydrogen Vision” the expansion of hydrogen demand and increased utilization by 2030, aiming for full-scale use of green hydrogen by 2050.
Hydrogen produced at a plant in Fukushima prefecture using a 10MW renewables-powered electrolyzer — the largest in the world of its kind — helped power the Olympic and Paralympic Village at Tokyo 2020 Games.
In October 2022, TMG hosts the TIME TO ACT: Hydrogen Forum 2022, bringing together global experts and leaders to share knowledge on how to promote green hydrogen in Tokyo and other cities around the world. The forum also called for collaboration to build a hydrogen energy supply chain in Tokyo’s industrial and business sectors.
Hydrogen Hopes
The Time is Now
TMG is bringing together its full range of climate initiatives under the banner of a “TIME TO ACT” movement dedicated to accelerating action towards decarbonization; its name embodying the immediacy and gravity of the challenge.
Based on the “Tokyo Environmental Master Plan,” which was revised in September 2022, TMG will move ahead with the strategic, comprehensive efforts to realize a green and resilient global city. This includes ensuring that new houses equipped with solar panels become tools in that battle for decades to come, and mobilizing the city’s 14 million inhabitants by raising awareness with HTT and other initiatives. Climate change action requires a global response, and so it is important to enhance and strengthen cooperation with other cities around the world. Through cross-border collaboration and information exchange via the TIME TO ACT: Hydrogen Forum 2022, Tokyo is talking the talk and walking the walk.
Although, along with many other cities, countries and organizations, TMG is proactively fighting climate breakdown, its harsh realities are already upon us. In the face of this global challenge, Tokyo is stepping up to play its part with a multifaceted, collaborative strategy that will contribute to securing all of our futures.
The Reuters news staff had no role in the production of this content. It was created by Reuters Plus, the brand marketing studio of Reuters.
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A major pillar of this is a massive expansion of solar power generation, and TMG is working toward introducing a mandate for major housing suppliers and other large firms in the sector to install solar panels on new houses and other buildings in Tokyo from April 2025.
In addition, there are already generous subsidies available from the metropolitan government for solar panels, as well as for storage batteries, electric vehicles and charging systems, door and window insulation, and energy-saving appliances.
Fuel cell buses and other vehicles can already be seen on the city’s streets, while hydrogen infrastructure is being rolled out as TMG continues to support the development of this promising new energy source. TMG is moving forward with the promotion of hydrogen station development, support initiatives to increase the number of fuel cell buses and other vehicles, along with the wider deployment of fuel cells for commercial and industrial use.
Fuel cell buses and other vehicles can already be seen on the city’s streets, while hydrogen infrastructure is being rolled out as TMG continues to support the development of this promising new energy source. TMG is moving forward with the promotion of hydrogen station development, support initiatives to increase the number of fuel cell buses and other vehicles, along with the wider deployment of fuel cells for commercial and industrial use.
Fuel cell buses and other vehicles can already be seen on the city’s streets, while hydrogen infrastructure is being rolled out as TMG continues to support the development of this promising new energy source. TMG is moving forward with the promotion of hydrogen station development, support initiatives to increase the number of fuel cell buses and other vehicles, along with the wider deployment of fuel cells for commercial and industrial use.
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