This term paper shall deal with the efforts towards climate mitigation of the city of Tokyo. Tokyo, with a population of 13 million and annual greenhouse gas emissions of 66 million tons, is not only the largest city in Japan but also accounts for a large part of Japan’s yearly emissions. In the first section, after shortly introducing the Policy-Mix Framework, the criteria for an analysis of Tokyo’s climate mitigation efforts will be explained, using a Policy-Mix approach. The criteria will be based on the instruments, the policy processes as well as the characteristics of the policy-mix. In the second section of the paper, this criteria will be used to analyse Tokyo’s efforts toward climate mitigation, using empirical data.
The analysis will be based on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Climate Change Strategy from 2007 and the Cap-and-Trade program from 2010. Finally, the results will be summed up in this papers conclusion which will also show what the world can learn from Tokyo’s efforts.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. A Policy-Mix Approach to Tokyo’s Climate Mitigation
2.1 An overview of the Policy-Mix Framework
2.2 Elements
2.3. Policy Processes
2.4 Characteristics
3. A Policy-Mix Analysis of Tokyo’s Climate Mitigation
3.1 Elements
3.2 Policy Processes
3.3 Characteristics
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper aims to critically evaluate Tokyo’s urban climate mitigation efforts by applying the "Policy-Mix" framework to assess whether the city's strategies and instruments are effectively aligned to meet ambitious climate goals.
- Application of the Policy-Mix Framework to urban environmental governance.
- Evaluation of Tokyo’s emissions reduction strategies and Cap-and-Trade programs.
- Analysis of institutional policy processes and learning mechanisms.
- Assessment of consistency, coherence, and credibility in urban climate policy.
- Investigation into the impact of population growth on per-capita emission targets.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Elements
Regarding a policy strategy, in 2007, Tokyo set itself a goal of reducing Tokyo’s greenhouse gas emissions by 25% in comparison to the 2000 level by 2020. In the year 2000, Tokyo’s greenhouse gas emissions accumulated to a total of 61.78 million tons of CO2. To achieve this, Tokyo, firstly, wanted to implement technology facilitating mechanisms to maximize energy efficiency as well as reduce CO2 emissions, while also helping private households and businesses by providing new technologies and information. Furthermore, Tokyo planned on increasing it’s share in renewable energies and using private and public shares as well as using tax incentives to cover the costs of the necessary investments. Moreover, the strategy included cooperation between Tokyo and other local governments in the Tokyo metropolitan area and all around the world. Additionally, in 2010, Tokyo implemented it’s Cap-and-Trade Program, an emissions trading system (ETS) focusing on reducing emissions from the large-scale industrial sector with a mandatory reduction of emissions. This program is split into two time periods, from 2010 to 2014 and 2015 to 2019, where businesses are supposed to reach at least a 6% reduction in the first, and a 17% reduction in the second period, relating to an average of three consecutive years’ emissions between 2002 and 2007 as base year. If a facility exceeds it’s target, the surplus can be banked to relieve the facility from reduction obligations in the next period.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the urgency of global climate change and outlines the specific objective to analyze Tokyo’s mitigation efforts using the Policy-Mix framework.
2. A Policy-Mix Approach to Tokyo’s Climate Mitigation: Establishes the theoretical foundation by defining elements, processes, and characteristics of a policy-mix for climate governance.
3. A Policy-Mix Analysis of Tokyo’s Climate Mitigation: Provides an empirical evaluation of Tokyo’s climate strategy, focusing on specific elements, implementation processes, and the resulting characteristics like consistency and credibility.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes findings, concluding that while Tokyo has taken significant steps, its policies require revision to effectively address the challenges of population growth and long-term emission reduction.
Keywords
Tokyo, Climate Mitigation, Policy-Mix, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Cap-and-Trade, Urban Policy, Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, Environmental Governance, Climate Strategy, Emissions Trading System, Decarbonization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how Tokyo, as a major global city, navigates climate mitigation challenges through its specific policy-mix strategy and instrumental approaches.
What are the central themes of the work?
The core themes include urban environmental policy, technical emissions reduction mechanisms, institutional governance, and the effectiveness of policy frameworks in balancing economic growth and climate goals.
What is the primary research question?
The research seeks to determine how effectively Tokyo is meeting its climate mitigation goals and whether its current policy-mix is sufficient to reach long-term targets like net-zero emissions.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author employs a diagnostic Policy-Mix analysis, evaluating the elements, processes, and characteristics of Tokyo's government strategies based on empirical data from 2007 onwards.
What is discussed in the main body?
The main body breaks down the theoretical framework of policy-mixes and applies these criteria—elements, processes, and characteristics—to analyze Tokyo’s specific climate initiatives, including the Cap-and-Trade Program.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Tokyo, Climate Mitigation, Policy-Mix, Cap-and-Trade, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and urban environmental sustainability.
Did the Cap-and-Trade program actually contribute to emission reductions?
While the program achieved notable successes in the industrial sector, the paper notes that official figures might be slightly distorted by base-year selections and that the impact is challenged by Tokyo's rising population.
What is the main finding regarding Tokyo's climate commitment?
The paper concludes that Tokyo's administration has shown initiative in planning and coordination, but suffers from a "credibility problem" due to missed targets and the potential insufficiency of future reduction goals.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2021, How is Tokyo meeting the challenge of climate mitigation?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1243316
