22 Cities adopt Tokyo Declaration for cleaner city skies
On May 23rd in Tokyo, 22 cities adopted the Tokyo Declaration on Realization of Clean Cities & Clear Skies. The declaration, driven by the city’s “mottainai” (too precious to waste) spirit, underscores not only the importance of achieving cleaner cities, but also outlines specific pathways towards achieving this goal. It emphasizes, for example, the adoption of measures to promote zero-emission vehicles and the reduction of airborne pollutants like PM2.5 (particulate pollution) in participating cities.
The declaration was released at the Tokyo Forum for Clean City & Clear Sky. The forum was hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and introduced by the Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike. “The expectation for cities in advancing sustainable development is rising,” said Governor Koike in her opening address. “We must strongly unite and continue to work together to make clean cities and clear skies a reality.”
Forum attendees included leaders from megacities like Durban, Paris, Sydney and Ulaanbaatar, and offered an opportunity for cities to exchange ideas and strategies on how to achieve their urban sustainability goals. As the proactive “Team Mottainai” being developed in Tokyo, the cities offered insights into urban development strategies for local governments at every level of development.
Events like these help foster innovative projects, sound sustainability policies and create an environment of transnational cooperation that will help achieve Paris Agreement targets.
As an official Cities and Regions Talanoa Dialogue event, the forum will also make its mark on the international climate negotiations at COP24 in Katowice this December. ICLEI will bring the outcomes to Katowice, as part of ongoing efforts to link local, regional and national governments in shaping and implementing climate policy.
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ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability participated in the Tokyo Forum for Clean City & Clear Sky as a supporting partner. Professor Hironori Hamanaka, Chair of ICLEI Japan, served as a moderator of the mayoral plenary sessions.
Read more about the Tokyo Forum for Clean City & Clear Sky.
Read the Tokyo Declaration on Realization of Clean Cities & Clear Skies.
