At the APCW 2021, organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat and hosted by Japan, the side event “Promoting Zero Carbon City through making “Decarbonization Domino Effect” was co-hosted by the Ministry of the Environment and ICLES on 6th July.

APCW is one of the Regional Climate Weeks, a joint platform for representatives of national governments, local governments, cities, the private sector, financial institutions, and civil society to discuss climate change measures together in four regions of the world under the auspices of the UNFCCC. This year, APCW was hosted by the Japanese government and held online.

With the cooperation of the UNFCCC, the Executive Director of ICLEI Japan moderated the session and invited speakers included Mr. Gonzalo Muñoz, UNFCCC-COP26 High-Level Champion for Climate Action, Mayor of Severan Pulai, Malaysia, and Deputy Mayor of Delcarmen, Philippines.

From Japan, ICLEI members Kawasaki City and Kyoto City, together with Shenzhen City in China, participated in the panel session 「Good practice from Cities and multilevel collaboration」 and discussed with the panelists how to spread advanced practices as a decarbonization domino effect to other cities and what kind of cooperation and support is needed for decarbonization.

Kawasaki City shared the background of the “Kawasaki Carbon Zero Challenge 2050“, which was formulated with the support of 304 businesses and organizations to realize a decarbonized society in 2050, as well as the urgent issues for countermeasures against damage from typhoon-induced floods and heatstroke. In addition, efforts to achieve decarbonization through collaboration with developing countries (such as the JCM project in Bandung, Indonesia) were introduced.

Kyoto City was announced its contribution and efforts towards the realization of decarbonization.

Based on the diverse realities of Japanese cities, ICLEI will continue to support the UNFCCC’s Race To Zero campaign, so that it can be effectively coordinated with the APCW ministerial-level meeting, which is to be held on 6th-7th September.

【Yokohama】Speaks at “Asia Pacific Climate Week 2021” hosted by the Japanese government

At the Asia Pacific Climate Week (APCW) 2021, which was held online from 6th to 9th July, hosted by the Government of Japan and co-hosted by United Nations agencies. In collaboration with ICLEI Japan, the Director-General of the Yokohama Climate Change Management Headquarters participated in a panel discussion on “Imagining 2050: Building low carbon, resource-efficient, nature positive and socially just cities“ held on 6th July.

In the panel discussion, Yokohama’s efforts to decarbonize, including the utilization of renewable energy, and its efforts as an SDG future city were presented. We also discussed the role of cities in achieving decarbonization by 2050 year and reconstruction from the Corona disaster.

【Tokyo】Speaker at “A Whole-of-Society Approach to the Race to Zero,” a side event of Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2021

On 6^th-9^th July 2021, Japan hosted the “Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2021”. At a side event on 8^th July, “A Whole-of-Society Approach to the Race to Zero,” Mr. Chiba, Deputy Director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, gave a speech as a member of the Japanese Climate Change Initiative (JCI).

This side event was organized by “Alliances for Climate Action (ACA)”, an international network of non-government actor initiatives from 7 counties including JCI. In addition to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, an Australian investment institution and a Vietnam renewable energy company took the stage to introduce the efforts of non-governmental actors in 3 Asia-Pacific countries and discuss how society as a whole can confront the climate crisis. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government introduced major building measures, especially for the 2030 carbon half, and the action of non-government actors will move the national government, and that cooperation among various actors beyond national borders is important.

Link to OUTPUT REPORT