Estimation of CO2 Reduction Potential in Small Cities in the Context of the Changing Social Situation in Japan

This paper concerns the reduction of CO2 emissions in small cities in Japan. There is no doubt that the enhancement of governance and the cooperative structure of cities (that is, at municipal and other local government levels) for the mitigation of global warming is becoming increasingly important. It is believed to be relatively easier to estimate the carbon emissions of large cities rather than small cities because they have sufficient statistical data and human resources. Meanwhile, small cities face difficulties in estimating their carbon emissions and planning future action plans. However, the number of small cities is larger than that of large cities; cooperation of these small cities toward tackling global warming is thus essential. In this study, the CO2 emissions and CO2 reduction potential of the city of Yusuhara—selected as one of the “Eco-model Cities for the Low Carbon Society” (EMC) by the Japanese Cabinet Secretariat—have been estimated in the context of social change. The results show that the amount of CO2 reduction will far exceed the total amount of CO2 emissions produced by the city if all measures are effectively implemented. Such a prediction encourages citizens to change their lifestyle and increase their environmental awareness, motivates local governments to formulate plans of action, and contributes to the realization of a low-carbon society