Tokyo joins cities group to tackle climate change
Monday, 04 Dec 2006 07:33
Tokyo officials have pledged to reduce carbon emissions
Tokyo has joined other major cities around the world in pledging to reduce carbon emissions linked to climate change.
The Japanese capital is the latest member to join the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group (LCCLG), a body chaired by London mayor Ken Livingstone.
Members of the group contribute over three quarters of all greenhouse gas emissions in the world.
After Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara and Mr Livingstone penned a partnership deal earlier this year on tackling common challenges facing both cities, the latter joined former US president Bill Clinton in August to launch a partnership of the LCCLG and the Clinton Foundation Climate Change Initiative (CCI).
Mr Livingstone said: "As one of the world's most important cities, Tokyo is a significant addition to the Large Cities Climate Change Group. There is much that they will contribute to other members' climate change work.
"Japan is at the forefront of developing renewable energy technology and Tokyo is leading the world in mapping and reducing its urban heat island and in developing innovative methods to manage flood risk.
"The world's largest cities have a major role to play in averting catastrophic climate change. Already they are at the centre of developing the technologies and innovative new practices that provide hope that we can radically reduce carbon emissions and prepare for the inevitable impacts."
Other members of the group include Berlin, Madrid, Moscow and New York.
There are now 23 members of the group in total.
Next year, the Tokyo metropolitan government intends to launch a new ten-year project to cut CO2 emissions in all sectors of the city.
Plans include increasing greenery and the use of renewable energy.