Kyoto as a Sustainable City

ページ番号305431

2022年11月28日

Throughout its long history, Kyoto has experienced severe hardship many times in such forms as natural disasters, epidemics and the turmoil of war, but it has overcome every one of those crises and continued to shine. The resilience of Kyoto has been underpinned by values deeply rooted in the lives of local people, including traditional Japanese spiritual culture and values and an environmentally friendly world view. As the host for the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol and as the municipality of a historic city boasting a millennium-old metropolitan tradition and culture, the Kyoto City government is committed to realizing a sustainable society by leveraging not only the city’s experience in overcoming innumerable crises with its cultural power but also the capabilities of citizens and communities.

To realize an environmentally friendly, sustainable society

In Kyoto, attitudes that value nature and the conservation of various resources, as represented by such terms as “mottainai” (regretting waste), “shimatsu” (simplicity and frugality) and “okagesama” (gratitude to nature and other people), have been fostered throughout the long history. The Kyoto City government aims to make Kyoto an environmentally-friendly, carbon neutral city by cherishing these attitudes and involving citizens in various environmental measures, such as halving waste production and significantly reducing energy consumption.

A pioneering city in combatting global warming

As the host for the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, the Kyoto City government has undertaken an international mission of sharing model initiatives countering global warming and expanding circles for environmental action to the rest of the world. In 2004, Japan’s first local government ordinance dedicated to action against global warming came into effect in Kyoto City. Since then, the Kyoto City government has adopted countermeasures against global warming. In addition, in 2019, the mayor of Kyoto City was the first among the heads of local governments in Japan to declare that the city was ready to pursue the policy of achieving net-zero CO₂ emissions in 2050, which the Japanese government adopted as a national policy in the following year. Kyoto City has therefore been playing a leading role in combatting global warming.

Furthermore, the Kyoto City government has formulated a new plan for action against global warming with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and making Kyoto a prosperous city where future generations can fulfill their dreams. Under this plan, the municipal government works to achieve a transformation in the four fields of lifestyle, business, energy and mobility, and implements measures to utilize carbon sinks and adapt to climate change.

The Kyoto City government has shared these initiatives with other municipalities both in Japan and abroad through the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP) and on other occasions and has joined international networks, including ICLEI, the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), and the Global Covenant of Mayors. By doing so, the Kyoto City government contributes actively to the realization of a carbon neutral global society.

※ Kyoto Appeal to Jointly Achieve 1.5°C

Resilient city supported by citizens

Since ancient times, residents of Kyoto have had a strong awareness of autonomy, desiring to build their city on their own. The resilience of Kyoto has built on a foundation unique to the city—the capabilities of citizens and communities, all of which have been demonstrated best in the face of crises in the history of Kyoto. In the city, many civil groups, represented by local communities, conduct various activities. The Kyoto City government encourages citizen-led community building in various fields to make Kyoto a resilient city with many sustainable features.