[This is an excerpt; for more about the study undertaken by e's Inc. and the specific actions undertaken by the cities surveyed, see the full article. - Ed.]

by Junko Edahiro

In Japan, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been increasing; 6.4 percent more GHG were emitted in 2006 than in 1990. Thus, in order to reach its national commitment under the Kyoto Protocol of "minus six percent," Japan needs to reduce its GHG emissions more than 12 percent.

[T]he following cities are examples of local governments that have set short-term goals with the target year 2010. Reduction rates are relative to 1990 levels.

• Shizuoka City: reduce GHG by 37%
• Nagoya City: reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and other GHG by 10% each
• Kyoto City: reduce GHG by 10%
• Osaka City: reduce GHG by 7%
• Sakai City: reduce CO2 by 8%

The following are local governments that have established ambitious long-term goals.

• Kashiwa City: reduce GHG by 25% by 2030 from the 2000 level
• Chiyoda Ward: reduce CO2 by 25% by 2020 from the 1990 level
• Yokohama City: reduce GHG by more than 30% per capita by 2025 from the 2004 level, and more than 60% by 2050 from the 2004 level
• Hiroshima City: reduce GHG 50% by 2030 from the 1990 level, and 70% by 2050 from the 1990 level

Although setting high goals alone cannot reduce emissions, most of the local governments that are setting high goals are also carrying out educational campaigns and model projects, and many have also adopted ingenious policies that could help lead to the concrete achievement of emission-reduction targets and an exit from global warming. The relevant elements of these policies can be classified into three categories: (1) providing incentives for activities that will contribute to curbing global warming, (2) establishing partnerships among actors, and (3) securing policy effectiveness through regulatory methods.