#Japan #Tokyo #Carbon Zero #Green Peace

Second Call for Entries for the Citizens' Choice Carbon Zero Local Awards

Today marks the beginning of the public call for entries for the Second Edition of the Citizens' Choice Carbon Zero Local Awards. This initiative, organized by the Citizens' Choice Carbon Zero Local Awards Executive Committee, which includes environmental organizations such as Greenpeace Japan, aims to recognize remarkable decarbonization efforts from municipalities across Japan. The awards not only focus on achieving numerical targets for carbon dioxide emission reduction but also emphasize improving local communities' health, comfort, and safety through innovative decarbonization measures.

The first awards celebrated a variety of unique and context-specific initiatives, such as disaster recovery projects that prioritized decarbonization and the mandatory installation of solar panels on new housing in metropolitan areas. The committee hopes to further expand the impact with this second edition and encourages all municipalities to submit entries and citizens or organizations to make recommendations.

Overview of the Second Citizens' Choice Carbon Zero Local Awards

• - Application Period: April 1, 2026 (Wednesday) to July 31, 2026 (Friday)
• - Eligible Participants: Municipalities and prefectures within Japan
• - Application Methods: Self-nomination by municipalities and nominations from citizens or organizations
• - Application Form: Click here to apply
• - Organizers: Citizens' Choice Carbon Zero Local Awards Executive Committee (including Greenpeace Japan, the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, and POW JAPAN)

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation of submissions will be based on several criteria, including:
1. Solving Local Challenges: Initiatives addressing local issues such as aging populations, depopulation, abandonment of farmland, vacant homes, industrial and regional autonomy, transportation, finances, tourism, and disaster prevention.
2. Improving Residents' Quality of Life: Persistent efforts to enhance the health, welfare, safety, comfort, and convenience of local residents, including measures to alleviate anxiety during disasters.
3. Regional Activation: Strategies that prevent the outflow of energy expenses, estimated at 20 to 30 trillion yen nationwide, and support the local economy by nurturing diverse actors within the community.
4. Decarbonization: Effective measures aimed at significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions to achieve carbon neutrality.
5. Replication Potential: Approaches that are financially sustainable and easily adaptable by other municipalities.

Award Categories

• - Basic Municipality Division
• - Designated City Division
• - Prefecture Division

Judges Panel

Chief Judge: Junichi Fujino

Senior Researcher, IGES (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies)
Judges:

• - Jinji Asuka (Tohoku University, Specially Appointed Professor / Emeritus Professor)
• - Tetsuya Iida (Director, Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies)
• - Manabu Utagawa (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Individual Participation)
• - Kazue Suzuki (Climate and Energy Officer, Greenpeace Japan)
• - Nanami Takei (Director, POW JAPAN)
• - Makoto Maeda (Associate Professor, The University of Tokyo)
• - Mari Yoshitaka (Representative Director, Virtue Design, Inc.)

Award Ceremony Information

• - Date and Time: Expected on October 28, 2026 (Wednesday)
• - Location: Vision Center Shimbashi (1-5-2, Heiwa Building 17F, Uchiyama-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0011, Japan)
• - Format: Hybrid (In-person and Online)

Comments from Judges

Chief Judge Junichi Fujino emphasizes, “In light of the changing global situation, it’s crucial that we act for our local communities. By adopting energy-efficient technologies, we can plug the leaks in our energy 'bucket'. Utilizing locally produced energy, we can create disaster-resilient and healthy communities. Local initiatives can drive global change, and we eagerly await your applications!”

Tetsuya Iida of the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies states, “The world is undergoing an irrevocable energy transformation, often referred to as the 'Ei Revolution.' The leaders of this change are not nations or corporations but local communities and citizens. This award seeks to unearth and support local challenges to change the flow of energy spending and build a secure environment.”

Kazue Suzuki from Greenpeace Japan remarks, “Given the rising energy prices, the need to recognize municipalities that successfully tackle local problems while achieving decarbonization is more critical now than ever. I'm excited to receive many applications!”

Nanami Takei from POW JAPAN adds, “The climate crisis is a direct threat to our business and lives. Community support is essential for sustainable operations. This award will enable us to discover outstanding initiatives and propagate them nationwide,”

This awards ceremony aims not only to encourage municipalities in their sustainability efforts but also to inspire a broader commitment to ecological stewardship across Japan.