Chiba City is setting ambitious goals to lead Japan's local decarbonization efforts. Last August, the city, home to nearly 1 million residents, announced it would achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions at all approximately 750 of its facilities by March 2027—four years ahead of schedule. This landmark achievement would position Chiba as a significant player among the 80 municipalities recognized as decarbonization leaders by the Environment Ministry.
Chiba's decarbonization initiative aligns with the broader efforts to improve energy resilience, particularly after the city faced severe power outages due to typhoons and heavy rains between September and October 2019. Over 94,600 households lost power for up to 20 days during these events, highlighting the urgent need for energy self-sufficiency. "We hadn’t taken noteworthy measures (on energy) before these disasters," said Hidetaka Ishii, the city official overseeing decarbonization promotion.
To address these challenges, Chiba City has implemented various innovative solutions, including the installation of solar panels on the roofs of 128 schools and 12 community centers, which will serve as emergency shelters. The city plans to source half of its energy from on-site solar energy systems through power purchase agreements (PPPs), allowing private energy companies to set up solar installations on public properties. Consumers purchase the generated electricity at rates typically lower than grid prices, effectively alleviating the financial burden of renewable energy adoption. Presently, approximately 9% of the city's power consumption derives from solar energy.
The city is also integrating its 750 public facilities through advancements with Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings to create an area energy management system. This system will enable the sharing of excess energy within the network, dramatically improving efficiency. Estimates suggest this initiative could reduce CO2 emissions by 68,000 tons annually—equivalent to the yearly emissions of 26,000 households—while saving ¥500 million each year.
Chiba's successful approach and ambitious goals have gained recognition, leading the Japan subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz to relocate its head office from Tokyo to Chiba. Mercedes-Benz is presently undergoing significant shifts to electrify its vehicle production and aims for carbon neutrality across its supply chain by 2039.
Despite these advances, there are significant limitations due to the scope of the Environment Ministry’s initiative, which primarily focuses on civilian sectors. Critics argue the program does not adequately address high-emission areas like manufacturing and transportation, which contribute significantly more to the city’s overall emissions. Ishii acknowledged these constraints, stating, "The measures by the city of Chiba will give residents peace of mind in case another disaster strikes," but also emphasized the need to address all sectors of the economy.
The national government’s energy policy proposals are also raising concerns among local governments aiming for decarbonization. Under the new policy roadmap, Japan commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by the fiscal year beginning April 2035, compared to fiscal 2013 levels. By fiscal 2040, the nation aims to derive between 40% to 50% of its energy from renewable sources. Nevertheless, critics highlight the insufficiency of these measures, arguing Japan must aim for at least 81% reductions to align with the Paris Agreement's aspiration of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Profound skepticism remains about the realistic outcomes of local decarbonization programs, according to Tetsunari Iida, director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies. While he has advised various communities on their decarbonization initiatives, he expressed concern about the initiative's restricted effectiveness, stating "the most important thing is whether these projects can nurture talent with local leadership and community involvement. Otherwise, the projects will suffer a sudden death when the subsidy runs out.”
Chiba's coalition of businesses and government aims to establish its place as a discerning energy leader within Japan. A diverse range of local entities, from retail giants like Aeon to energy startups, are part of this initiative. Nonetheless, the overall success of these local decarbonization efforts will hinge on their ability to cultivate expertise and sustain momentum beyond the expiration of subsidized government funding.
Chiba’s progress and commitment highlight the importance of local action within the broader framework of national climate goals. While facing challenges determining the path forward remains, initiatives like Chiba's can serve as potential templates for accelerating Japan’s transition to sustainable and renewable energy models.