Japan's Ministry of the Environment announced on October 1, 2007, that it has selected cities and districts for a national project to balance environmental protection and economic development in fiscal 2007. In total, seven areas were selected: (1) Toyako Town and 3 neighboring municipalities in Hokkaido; (2) Shihoro Town in Hokkaido; (3) Shizuoka City in Shizuoka Prefecture; (4) Kakegawa City in Shizuoka Pref.; (5) Nagano City in Nagano Pref.; (6) Achi Village and 14 neighboring municipalities in Nagano Pref.; and (7) Bizen City and 4 neighboring municipalities in Okayama Pref.

The ministry began this open application program in fiscal 2004, aiming to promote mutually reinforcing virtuous cycles that improve both the environment and economy. Selected areas are partially subsidized by the national government to conduct their plans or install facilities to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Capitalizing on the opportunity of hosting the Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit, Toyako Town and neighboring Date City, Toyoura Town and Soubetsu Town, all of which are located near Lake Toya, have compiled its "Team Toyako Project" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the area by 50 percent in CO2 equivalent by 2030. They plan to attain this target by promoting the use of snow cryogenic energy in agricultural storage facilities, heat pumps in hot spring heating facilities, wood pellets manufactured in the area as stove fuel, and waste cooking oil from hotels and Japanese-style inns located in the area for city buses.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/2008/index.html
- Environment/Economy Harmonization Projects in 2nd Year (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1343-e

Posted: 2008/02/13 12:11:43 PM
Japanese version

TAG Energy , Global warming , Government , Local government