World Bank Knowledge Sharing Series on Low Carbon and Climate-Smart Cities: April 2021- February 2022
World Bank Knowledge Sharing Series on Low Carbon and Climate-Smart Cities: April 2021- February 2022
Home to more than half of the world’s population, cities generate three-quarters of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. Around the world, cities, countries, and regions have explored various initiatives to raise awareness and engagement among all actors with the aim of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. However, additional work is needed to break organizational silos and harness cross-sectoral and cross-governmental collaboration to accelerate the development of low carbon and climate-smart cities.
Cities can play a pivotal role in promoting low carbon and resilient urban development, but they share a common challenge: the need to create individual approaches that reflect each city’s unique circumstances and characteristics. Moving forward, cities need to understand what a low carbon society means to them, learn from global best practices to address climate challenges, and formulate and implement tailored plans and policies.
The Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), in collaboration with the World Bank Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience, and Land Global Practice (GPURL) and the Environment, Natural Resources, and Blue Economy Global Practice (ENB), is organizing a Knowledge Sharing Series on Low Carbon and Climate-Smart Cities. The program will showcase the experiences of cities in Japan and around the globe in applying cutting-edge solutions to achieve low carbon and climate-smart cities.
Organized by World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) in collaboration with the World Bank Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land GP (GPURL) and the Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy GP (ENB)
The Government of Japan has declared that Japan would realize carbon-neutrality by 2050 and will take steps forward in environmental investment. With this, Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) announced that it aims to set a target to start a demonstration carbon credit exchange market in JFY23 to monetize local companies’ carbon emissions reduction in its push for carbon neutrality. Any Japanese carbon credit market is likely to start with combining existing carbon trading systems, such as the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), J-Credit, non-fossil fuel energy certificates, and voluntary credits.
In July 2020, Ministry of Environment (MoE) launched the JCM Global Partnership with the aim of facilitating multilateral partnerships among the JCM partner countries and relevant stakeholders that are involved in the JCM implementation or interested in market mechanisms under the Paris Agreement.
This event is sixth in the series of the TDLC’s Knowledge Sharing Series on Low Carbon and Climate-Smart Cities. This online event aimed to achieve the following objectives:
Please watch the recorded session from the link below.
Yasuaki Yoneyama, Special Representative, World Bank Tokyo Office
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Organized by World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) in collaboration with the World Bank Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land GP (GPURL) and the Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy (ENB) GP, Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation (FCI) Global Practice, and the Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment (MTI) Global Practice
Carbon pricing is a preferred mechanism by many governments as a means of bringing down carbon emissions by putting a price on carbon pollution. One of the mechanisms to levy carbon pricing is emissions trading system (ETS), also referred to as cap-and-trade system. As the name suggests, this system puts a cap on the total level of greenhouse gas emissions and allows those industries with low emissions to sell (basically trade off) their extra allowances to the large emitters. This system prompts the defaulters to pay for carbon pollution but more importantly incentivizes them to reduce their emissions and drive investments into cleaner options. At the same time, it rewards the lower emitters by giving them extra credits which are sellable in the market. The carbon price also stimulates clean technology and market innovation, fueling new, low-carbon drivers of economic growth.
This event is fifth in the series of the World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC)’s Knowledge Sharing Series on Low Carbon and Climate-Smart Cities. Drawing on the experiences, lessons, and solutions from Tokyo and Thailand, this online event was anchored by two core themes:
The session showcased good practices and policies in Japan and abroad that promote and implement carbon pricing mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and approaches that involve the private sector and business leaders as accountable stakeholders.
Please watch the recorded session from the link below.
Francis Ghesquiere, Practice Manager, World Bank
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Organized by World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) in collaboration with the World Bank Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land GP (GPURL) and the Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy GP (ENB) and Fukuoka City of Japan
Cities are responsible for 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. They are not just the contributors but also receivers and payee of the climate change impacts, such as urban heat islands, flooding and health emergencies. To combat the mounting pressures of climate change and achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, cities need to become more ‘climate-smart’ in urban planning and design. This entails multiple aspects, including sustainable and resilient urban form, which is the focus of the event. The topic comprises various facets, such as more careful land use and zoning regulations, climate-focused local level policies, planning and optimization of urban infrastructure and spatial designs, use of technology and innovation, while considering connectivity, green spaces, density, climate risks and future growth trends. It is also crucial to create an incentivized and enabling environment for the private sector to partner with the cities to promote and sustain climate-smart urban forms.
欧美日b大片 Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) hosted a side event on Climate-Smart Urban Form on October 27th, 2021, as a part of the organized by Fukuoka City of Japan. This event is fourth in the series of the TDLC’s Knowledge Sharing Series on Low Carbon and Climate-Smart Cities. Drawing on the experiences, lessons, and solutions from Japan and other countries this online event was anchored by two core themes:
The session showcased good practices and policies in Japan and abroad that promote climate-smart urban form, and approaches to involve the private sector in this regard.
Please watch the recorded session from the link below.
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The transport sector contributes to 23% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions—a figure that could reach over 30% within the next decade under a business-as-usual scenario. As a matter of fact, transport-related emissions have risen faster compared to other sectors over the past three decades. This is attributed to many factors, including rapid urbanization in developing countries surging the energy consumption and CO2 emissions by urban transport. Clearly, transport decarbonization is pertinent for achieving the low carbon or carbon neutral cities and abate the impacts of climate change. Despite the focused policies and investments in green mobility, there are many challenges holding the agenda back exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic impacts.
This online event aimed to achieve the following objectives:
Please watch the recorded session from the link below.
*In no particular order.
Recording
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By 2050, the world is expected to generate 3.40 billion tons of waste annually, increasing drastically from today’s 2.01 billion tons. While the composition, treatment, and management of solid waste differs across cities, there are common challenges faced with regards to holistic planning and policy; sustainable financing; selection of appropriate technology; and the integration of informal workers, citizens, and the private sector. With COVID-19 straining municipal human and financial resources, the imperative for greener, inclusive, and sustainable waste management practices is now stronger than ever. As a critical urban service, the treatment and management of solid waste is an integral part of the conversation as cities worldwide set targets for their carbon emissions and adopt strategies for the development of low carbon cities.
This online event focused on green and inclusive solid waste management, and is the second installment in the World Bank Knowledge Sharing Series on Low Carbon and Climate-Smart Cities. This online event explored good and emerging practices in green and inclusive solid waste management, addressing questions such as: What are good and emerging practices in green and inclusive solid waste? What are the policy interventions required to meet ambitious carbon reduction targets?
Drawing on the experiences, lessons, and solutions from Japan and other countries this online event was anchored by two core themes:
Please watch the recorded sessions from the links below.
Closing Remarks
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This online webinar, with a focus on energy-efficient buildings, is the first event in the World Bank’s Knowledge Sharing Series on Low Carbon Cities. With key speakers from Japan, representing the developer Mori Building and the City of Yokohama, the session outlined the major challenges in planning, managing, and evaluating energy-efficient buildings. It also emphasized key takeaways for cities, especially those in emerging economies, that share the decarbonization agenda. Please watch the recorded sessions from the links below.
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