Humanity faces an environmental crisis - such as by way of global warming and the destruction of the ozone layer - on a worldwide scale that threatens to significantly disrupt the climate systems on which our survival depends. This situation can be attributed to ongoing economic activities that give priority to convenience and efficiency as well as to our reliance on a wealth of resources and the continuing consumption of enormous amounts of energy derived from fossil fuels.
In order to avoid a climate-change crisis generated by global warming, it is important that we review the ways in which energy is used and that we make a transition to a low-carbon society (low-energy society) in which comfortable urban living based on the use of minimally required amounts of energy is enabled.
A city with a large concentration of people and industry, Tokyo aims to collaborate with the residents of Tokyo, nonprofit organizations, companies, other local governments, and large cities overseas as the capital city of Japan and one of the world’s leading metropolitan centers in order to deploy proactive measures and become a model low-carbon city.
Released in 2007, the fourth assessment report of the IPCC (Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change) more or less asserts that there is no doubt that global warming is increasing, as seen in rising average atmospheric and oceanic temperatures, and that this state of affairs is attributable to human activities.
This report also clearly points out that the rate of warming is mounting as seen in unusual weather patterns consisting of heat waves, droughts, and increasing precipitation, as well as in melting glaciers and arctic ice and rising sea levels and that climate change on a global scale is an exceedingly serious phenomenon.
Urban activities undertaken in Tokyo rely on massive amounts of resources and food supplied by domestic and foreign sources. Climate change on a global scale threatens the ability to secure such resources and food and poses a considerable danger to the very foundation of the socioeconomic activities that are carried out in Tokyo.
The consumption of energy in Tokyo in 2005 was about 13% greater than in 1990. In particular, consumption rose by approximately 50% and approximately 26% among businesses and households, respectively, over this period.
In fiscal year 2005, 57.47 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were discharged in Tokyo, an increase of approximately 6% in comparison to fiscal year 1990 (54.39 million tons). In particular, emissions rose by approximately 33% and approximately 16% among businesses and households, respectively, over this period.
The main factor behind the increase in emissions among businesses is the increase in the floor area of primarily office buildings while the main factor behind the increase in emissions among households is the increase in the number of single-person households. Other factors include office automation and a greater rate of adoption of household electrical appliances.
There is no single magic bullet that can be employed as a measure for dealing with climate change.
Small, medium-sized, and large companies, households, and other groups must all be aware of their own roles and responsibilities and make the utmost efforts towards reducing emissions of carbon dioxide.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) has presented a
target for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 25% from the
level of emissions in fiscal year 2000 by 2020 in the TMG Environmental
Master Plan, as formulated in March 2008, and has
also deployed proactive measures in collaboration with other
large urban centers. 
◎ Reinforcing measures applicable to large-scale businesses
Initiatives for reducing CO2 emissions by large-scale
businesses are being promoted according to the Tokyo CO2 Emission
Reduction program 
(which
strives to promote energy reduction and other goals at office buildings
and other large-scale business operations). From fiscal year 2010, substantial
CO2 reductions will be pursued by mandating reductions
in total volume on the part of large-scale businesses and otherwise reinforcing
this program.
◎ Reinforcing measures applicable to small and medium-sized businesses
Energy conservation workshops are being held, energy
conservation diagnoses are being performed, and other such
initiatives are being proactively undertaken for small and medium-
sized businesses that have not made much progress
in reducing energy consumption. 
In
addition, a low CO2 requirement will be added to a program
for the certification of small-sized low NOx boilers and gas heat pumps, and
efforts will be made to popularize and promote appliances that
qualify as both low NOx and low CO2 appliances beginning
in 2009.
Operations of a reporting program for the promotion of energy conservation among small and medium-sized business operations shall be launched in 2010 as a means of carrying out further relevant measures.
◎ Promoting energy conservation and electric power conservation among households
With a view to promoting energy and electric power conservation
among households, various initiatives --including
an energy efficiency labelling system for home appliances 
(which
provides in-store information on the performance of household electric appliances
in terms of energy conser-vation to consumers) and “Incandescent Lamp Replacement
Campaign” 
--have
been deployed.
In conjunction with the steady implementation of these measures, high-efficiency water heaters will be promoted and other initiatives designed to encourage energy and electric power conservation among households shall be proactively carried out in collaboration with local municipalities.
Moreover, as the study of the environment - which gives children an opportunity to learn about and act in regards to the environment - constitutes a significant key to promoting environmental awareness in households, TMG has been reinforcing environmental education initiatives.
◎ Promoting energy conservation measures in buildings
The rationalization of energy use by large-scale buildings,
the mitigation of the heat island phenomenon, and other environmentally
friendly initiatives are being carried out under the
Tokyo green building program 
(which
seeks to have the environment taken into account when office buildings, condominium
apartments, and other structures are built or expanded).
The expansion of this program in the future will help promote improvements in the performance of large-scale buildings in terms of energy conservation and CO2 reduction measures.
Furthermore, energy conservation measures and other
such initiatives will also be deployed at metropolitan government
facilities as a demonstration of leadership. 
