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12.2 City Development and Global Warming
Countermeasures
Countermeasures against global warming are an urgent task for humanity. At COP
21 held in 2015, numerous countries entered into the groundbreaking Paris
Agreement, which requires the implementation of various countermeasures in the
future. To date, Japan’s global warming countermeasures have given priority to the
implementation of advanced environmental technologies. Central and local governments have been given subsidies to introduce advanced technologies at which Japan
excels, such as electric vehicles and solar power generation, as countermeasures. In
Yokohama City, officials used subsidies to introduce new technologies and environmental awareness projects.
The mayor of Copenhagen gave a speech at an international conference held in
Yokohama City, saying that “Our aim is not only to reduce carbon dioxide but also
that people select this city and comfortably spend their lives here as citizens. The
purpose is to make it viable.” Yokohama City officials decided it was necessary to
administer these projects from this viewpoint to evolve into one of the world’s top
cities. The Yokohama municipal government began to enact global warming countermeasures in all departments, aiming to be one of the most advanced cities from
various livability perspectives in addition to reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide
(CO 2 ) levels.
12.2.1 Launch of Climate Change Policy Headquarters
In 2007, Yokohama City set up the Climate Change Policy Headquarters, an agency
run by the deputy mayor, established councils that represent government–citizen
partnerships, and opened headquarters to promote global warming countermeasures
in each of its 18 districts. In addition, the city created the Yokohama Eco School,
which is a place for educating members of industry, government, and academia, for
collaborating on policy proposals, and for developing future leaders in combating
climate change. In this way, Yokohama City has developed a coherent system to
promote global warming countermeasures that includes all municipal departments
and citizens.
Although some departments were resistant to such changes, the mayor and deputy mayor supported these efforts and recognized that the programs would be meaningless unless done in all departments. Consequently, the officials of Yokohama
City insisted that it be an all-department project, created a subcommittee organization, promoted a comprehensive understanding by a large number of staff, and
12 Carbon Offset Utilizing Coastal Waters: Yokohama Blue Carbon Project
12.2 City Development and Global Warming
Countermeasures
Countermeasures against global warming are an urgent task for humanity. At COP
21 held in 2015, numerous countries entered into the groundbreaking Paris
Agreement, which requires the implementation of various countermeasures in the
future. To date, Japan’s global warming countermeasures have given priority to the
implementation of advanced environmental technologies. Central and local governments have been given subsidies to introduce advanced technologies at which Japan
excels, such as electric vehicles and solar power generation, as countermeasures. In
Yokohama City, officials used subsidies to introduce new technologies and environmental awareness projects.
The mayor of Copenhagen gave a speech at an international conference held in
Yokohama City, saying that “Our aim is not only to reduce carbon dioxide but also
that people select this city and comfortably spend their lives here as citizens. The
purpose is to make it viable.” Yokohama City officials decided it was necessary to
administer these projects from this viewpoint to evolve into one of the world’s top
cities. The Yokohama municipal government began to enact global warming countermeasures in all departments, aiming to be one of the most advanced cities from
various livability perspectives in addition to reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide
(CO 2 ) levels.
12.2.1 Launch of Climate Change Policy Headquarters
In 2007, Yokohama City set up the Climate Change Policy Headquarters, an agency
run by the deputy mayor, established councils that represent government–citizen
partnerships, and opened headquarters to promote global warming countermeasures
in each of its 18 districts. In addition, the city created the Yokohama Eco School,
which is a place for educating members of industry, government, and academia, for
collaborating on policy proposals, and for developing future leaders in combating
climate change. In this way, Yokohama City has developed a coherent system to
promote global warming countermeasures that includes all municipal departments
and citizens.
Although some departments were resistant to such changes, the mayor and deputy mayor supported these efforts and recognized that the programs would be meaningless unless done in all departments. Consequently, the officials of Yokohama
City insisted that it be an all-department project, created a subcommittee organization, promoted a comprehensive understanding by a large number of staff, and
12 Carbon Offset Utilizing Coastal Waters: Yokohama Blue Carbon Project