Climate Change Action and Adaptation in Tokyo

Abstract

Japan lacks effective studies on climate change actions and adaptation plans from a legal perspective. Experiences of success and failure show the uniqueness of Japan’s adaptation laws and may be helpful for other regions.

Unless scientific data for all of Japan are promulgated for each region, their certainty and accuracy might be lost, which might drive local governments’ decision-making in the wrong direction. Several local governments can work together to share the expertise of research institutes or universities just as California works with other states. Local governments face a particular task: figuring out how to collect and share the data on climate change. Legal specialists are needed to achieve this goal.

The Tokyo metropolitan area has a sizeable financial power with which it promotes various adaptation projects. The uniqueness of Tokyo is that the price of land is high for a large population, the city’s development happens rapidly, and energy consumption is high. Many houses and buildings are overcrowded even in the era of an aging society.

It would be ideal for local governments to monitor heat stroke patients regularly, but the local government has limited resources. The increasing number of senior citizens makes this task an issue for the national government.

Tokyo has a long history of being environmentally friendly. Today, climate change has impacted the probability of extreme climate risks. For example, floods occur beyond previous expectations. To counter these impacts, the Tokyo metropolitan area has implemented several measures such as installing several large water reservoirs underground to adapt to sudden downpours. Tokyo’s metro has set rain shields at the ground entrances of its stations and provides the technology for residents to see data on flood vulnerable regions.

Tokyo has promoted technologically oriented adaptation projects, such as the ZEV. This project may be a model for other local governments. The Japanese constitution does not follow a federal system and does not have a commerce clause. This prevents issues of federalism, but there may be discrimination issues under the equality clause. The ZEV initiative is one of the leading climate change actions Tokyo’s government is taking. It will subsidize in...

Keywords: Japan, adaptation, Tokyo, ZEV, local government