On March 15 (Sat) and 31 (Mon), the "Environmental Model City Study Group" was held in a Machiya (traditional wooden townhouses) in Kyoto.
"Environmental Model City" is one of the Japanese government's project with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases.
In the project, the government selects cities which address the issues of greenhouse gases emission from all over the country and support them.
Kyoto city, where the Kyoto Protocol was contracted in 1997, is also standing as a candidate of Environmental Model City. The purpose of this study group is to discuss a Kyoto city's plan for the project, which will deny current common wisdom and impress the whole world.
Hear are those who participated in this study group.
Client:
Mr. Motoki YAMAZAKI,
Deputy mayer of Kyoto City
Other participants:
- Producer of new mobility management in Kyoto
- Solar energy generation engineer who contributed to PC revolution in 20th century
- Researcher who suggests research project focusing on 100 years out
- Researcher who deals with infrastructure design based on system methodology
- CEO of IT company which has one of the largest online community in Japan
- Robot creator whose work has been introduced by TIME
- Producer of famous proficiency test that has 2.6 million examees
and etc.
Presentation:
First of all, Mr. Yamazaki made a presentation about the planning of environmantal model in Kyoto city. And then each participant brought out her/his own point of view toward the environment of Kyoto city.
Mr. Yamazaki
Discussion:
After Mr. Yamazaki's presentation, sun-like burning discussion has been started.
Here are snapshots of the discussion.
"Reducing CO2 is only finagle and temporary measure"
"Do not rely on fossile fuel of which must run out"
"The idea of emission trading came from western thought. Why don't we Japanese think different from Buddhist view"
"It took 1000 years for us to make agriculture sustainable"
"Industrial revolution has not complete yet"
"Old and/or poorly maintained trees do not absorb CO2, while young trees do well"
"If Kyoto city has some bycycle-friendly roads, more people use bicycles instead of cars"
"Using cars is just like hard-to-quit habit, such as drinking"
"Toyota is producing passenger car of good design. Why not bus??"
"Never allow the cars under 5 million$ to run in Kyoto city"
"Human of 75kg rides a car of 1.5t, How unethical!"
"Kyoto has 1200-year history. But next 1200 years never come if nothing is done"
"Use the culture of 'Kamado-kin (furnace money)', where people make a donation according to the number of furnace they have"
"People in Kyoto don't deny new things. They just leave them"
"Kyoto has climate of think new things as cool"
"Only Kyoto city can deny Kyoto Protocol"
"The idea of eco will never spread as long as it is just to force people to be tolerable"
"Eco should be cool and beyond people's reach"
"Kyoto to support Innovator and Early adapter"
"Think in long term, act in short term"
In the future, Kyoto city will consider the concept of Kyoto's environmental model taking this discussion in consideration.
Don't take your eyes off Kyoto city!!
