Contributing to the Development of a City Where Residents Are Happy through Adaptation
| Date of interview | August 6, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Establishing organization | Climate Change Measure Bureau, Nasushiobara City |
| Targets | Yu Kamei, Policy Deliberation Chief, Strategy Promotion Bureau, Nasushiobara City Shinichi Oki, Director, Climate Change Measure Bureau Naoshi Sagara, Manager; Masaaki Tabata, Assistant Section Chief; Fumiya Yoshida, Assistant Section Chief; Yuji Okano, Chief |
Background of establishment
Please tell us how the Nasushiobara City Climate Change Adaptation Center came to be established.
Director Oki：Out city formulated the local climate change adaptation plan in March 2020, and established the Climate Change Measure Bureau in April. Then, as a cross-office organization, we positioned the Local Climate Change Adaptation Center within the city office. Our bureau also functions as the secretariat for the Center. There are currently 5 employees assigned to the bureau, and 2 each are in charge of mitigation and adaptation, respectively. This fiscal year, the Center plans to conduct a fact-finding survey on 16 sections within the city office, and hold 3 adaptation promotion meetings with directors from concerned sections, who are assigned as adaptation promotion managers.
Manager Sagara：When we conducted a hearing on the effects of climate change at various sections, I found that people were not familiar with the word adaptation, and that there were differences in awareness among the departments. We provided some training to respond to such needs as a part of the promotion meeting we held in April this year. We transmitted that the existing measures of each section contribute to the adaptation measures. In the “Climate Change Information Collection and Analysis Project by Public Participation” of the Ministry of the Environment, for which we were entrusted some tasks starting in this fiscal year, we are considering recruiting the employees of other sections to cooperate in the investigation. We expect that the understanding on adaptation will deepen within the city office through these projects. We also hope to play a role as an actual working unit in the region by actively utilizing the research data provided by the national and prefectural governments.
Please tell us about the detailed activities of the Climate Change Measure Bureau.
Director Oki：After experiencing the recent abnormal weather and the spread of COVID-19, our city aims to construct the “Sustainable City of Nasushiobara.” As a part of such efforts, our Bureau works on the “Nasunogahara Green Project.” It consists of 4 specific measures. These are (1) Local utilization of the local renewable energy, (2) Energy saving at institutions and facilities, (3) Adaptation to the effects of climate change, and (4) Cross-cutting matters. In (3) Adaptation to the effects of climate change, we plan to collect information in the subject fields including agriculture, tourism, education, disaster prevention, and life of citizens. While maintenance of infrastructure is important in disaster prevention, there are also many challenges such as population decrease and budget shrinkage. We are therefore currently considering conducting an investigation on Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). We utilize heatstroke prevention information, which is provided by the Ministry of the Environment, as a measure against heat. We refer to the heatstroke prevention information and distribute e-mails to raise caution on heatstroke via “Miru Mail,” which is an e-mail delivery service by the city, in the morning of days on which there is a forecast for the wet bulb globe temperature index (WBGT) to reach 31C or higher, or when the WBGT actually reaches 31C. The concerned department or bureau will also urge the relevant parties to take measures against heat when the e-mail is delivered. For example, the education department will urge the elementary and junior high schools to take measures.
Manager Sagara：Our city formulated Nasushiobara City Climate Change Adaptation Plan in the previous fiscal year, and plans to revise our Implementation Plan on Global Warming Measures in this fiscal year. We hope to incorporate brushed up adaptation measures in the plan.
Assistant Section Chief Tabata：I consider the development of the plan not as a goal but as a start. In this plan, we specified 17 small items as fields where measures should be promoted. We also used the local climate change adaptation plan development manual by the Ministry of the Environment as well as the Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform (A-PLAT) for reference. We actively post data for S-8 to be published on WebGIS and data for Volume 9 of the Japan Meteorological Agency. In the future, we will verify the data with the originating sections, and further substantiate the plan as the grounds for such data.
Director Oki：To move the citizens and other sections of the city office, I think it is effective to have prediction for the near future such as 5 years from now. We would also appreciate it if they can provide data on disaster prediction such as flooding risks of rivers in each area.
Can you tell us about the future prospects?
Policy Deliberation Chief Kamei：Adaptation is not the purpose but a means. We hope to contribute to the creation of a town where citizens can live happily through adaptation now and in the future.
Manager Sagara：I want to solve various issues of the citizens through adaptation.
Director Oki：I want to create a town “where people can survive as long as they stay.” I hope to present even one specific adaptation measure and help people adapt. While I have worked in environmental administration for many years, some of the other employees have only been transferred from the education department or coronavirus task force. Since administrative employees are frequently transferred, it would be effective if we have the materials on climate change, etc. that are appropriate for the levels of knowledge of the persons in charge. It is also extremely important that the employees who actually work are willing to operate the Center, in addition to the strong intention of the top management. If any cities or towns are considering establishment of a center, I strongly suggest trying.
Assistant Section Chief Tabata：We do not have to take the measures at once for all the effects of climate change. I hope to organize the items that should be addressed by our city with priority, and make specific proposals on who should take what measure and when.
Assistant Section Chief Yoshida：I am mainly in charge of mitigation, and I believe that this is a field where regional communities can be involved in global issues. I hope to steadily do what we can.
Chief Okano：I believe that climate change is not just an environmental issue, but related to various different fields. I hope to work so that our efforts will lead to safe and secure life and happy future for the people of the community.
(Date of publication: October 1, 2020)
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