Globally, the degradation of the Earth’s environment, such as global warming, ocean pollution, and the loss of wild animal species, continues to worsen. Various efforts to create a sustainable society began to spread worldwide in 2015, leading to progress such as the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which put forth the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement.

The Osaka City Government aims to realize a vision of Osaka as an environmentally advanced city that contributes to the achievement of the SDGs by working to establish a decarbonized society, form a recycling-based society, secure a comfortable urban environment, and contribute to the global environment through an approach that relies on the involvement and collaboration of all stakeholders.

Establishing a decarbonized society

While prompting the introduction of new technologies, facilities, and equipment, as well as lifestyle changes, Osaka City is actively promoting energy conservation and the use of renewable energy and unused energy sources. The city aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by promoting the adoption of next‑generation vehicles and advancing the decarbonization of mobility and urban development. As a measure to increase CO2 sequestration, we are also working to expand the use of domestically produced timber.

Building on the momentum of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, we are advancing initiatives to make sustainable, low‑carbon “decarbonization tours” the norm by reducing CO2 emissions from travel. By promoting low‑emission transport options and environmentally responsible lodging, the city aims to drive a widespread shift toward travel with smaller carbon footprints.

Global warming countermeasures

Osaka City continues initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the participation and cooperation of all stakeholders in line with the previously formulated “Global Warming Action Plan of Osaka City.”

Outline of the “Global Warming Action Plan of Osaka City” (revised in May 2024)

• Our target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Osaka City area by 50% from 2013 by fiscal year 2030 to achieve a decarbonized society, "Zero Carbon Osaka" by 2050.
• Through government-wide measures, the city will work with citizens and corporations to expand the use of renewable energy, reduce energy consumption, and promote widespread adoption of next-generation automobiles.
• Osaka City Hall will actively promote energy conservation and expansion of renewable energy use in public facilities.

Decarbonization leading areas initiatives

In November 2023, the Midosuji area was selected as a Decarbonization Leading Area by the Ministry of the Environment. Both the public and private sectors are working together to achieve virtually zero CO2 emissions from electricity consumption in the Midosuji area by fiscal 2030. Specific initiatives include implementing thorough energy conservation measures, such as making buildings ZEB-compliant when rebuilding buildings, installing high-efficiency air conditioning and LED lighting in existing buildings, and maximizing the use of solar power generation. Osaka will also promote the supply of renewable energy from homes, elementary and junior high schools within the city and, through regional collaboration, will promote decarbonization in the central areas of large cities where it is difficult to secure renewable energy.

Building a new energy society

To take the initiative in building a new energy society that will realize growth for Osaka and safe, secure lives for its residents during an era of decarbonization, Osaka City formulated the Osaka Smart Energy Plan in March 2021, setting the direction of energy-related initiatives that should be undertaken jointly by the city and Osaka Prefecture through FY2030. Under this plan, the city aims to double the utilization rate of renewable energy and to improve energy efficiency.

Promoting the use of hydrogen energy

Osaka City, together with Osaka Prefecture and Sakai City, has formulated the "H2Osaka Vision" to set the direction for hydrogen‑related initiatives in this growth sector, aiming to broaden hydrogen use by commercializing new products and services that expand hydrogen demand.
We have also established the H2Osaka Vision Promotion Council as an industry‑academia‑government platform to disseminate information on hydrogen energy to citizens and to foster the creation of new hydrogen projects by providing a forum for collaboration and idea generation among stakeholders.

Use of aquifer thermal energy storage

Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) technology, which extracts thermal energy stored in geological layers that hold large amounts of groundwater (aquifers) and uses it to efficiently heat and cool buildings, is expected to help save energy, reduce CO2 emissions, and mitigate the heat island phenomenon.
Osaka City, which has a high concentration of buildings with high heat demand and which is blessed with extensive aquifers, is promoting the use of heat stored in these formations as an untapped source of energy that suits the region’s characteristics.

Forming a recycling-based society

Osaka City has seen a substantial decline in waste volume compared with past peaks, but will continue to curb waste generation itself and promote reuse and recycling to further reduce waste processing volumes. By advancing the formation of a circular society, these measures will also contribute to efforts against marine pollution caused by plastic waste.

Osaka City and Osaka Prefecture were chosen by the Cabinet Office in July 2020 as one of the "SDGs Future Cities and Local Governments SDGs Model Projects." Accordingly, the City and the Prefecture jointly developed the "Osaka Blue Ocean Vision" action plan in March 2021 as one of the model project's initiatives and also as a separate plan for the water sector of the "Osaka City Environmental Basic Plan."

We are contributing to the achievement of the SDGs by promoting initiatives based on this action plan and collaborating with all stakeholders to contribute to the realization of "zero new pollution from marine plastic litter by 2050" set forth in the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision, as well as by developing various measures to create a clean water environment.

Securing a comfortable urban environment

In addition to pursuing coexistence with nature, for example by protecting biodiversity, the Osaka City Government is working to create a city whose residents can enjoy healthy, pleasant lives by pursuing heat island measures and initiatives to protect the urban environment.

Contributing to protection of the global environment

Osaka City brought the United Nations Environment Programme International Environmental Technology Centre (UNEP-IETC) to Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park in Tsurumi Ward in 1992, and the city is working together with the Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC) to resolve environmental issues in developing nations by promoting international exchange in the environmental field.

Support for the development of decarbonized cities throughout Asia and beyond

In addition to sharing the knowledge and expertise it has accumulated to date from efforts to overcome environmental issues with cities across Asia and beyond, Osaka City is working with businesses that have registered with the Team OSAKA Network, a platform that was launched in 2016 to facilitate partnerships among industry, academia, and government, to contribute to the economic revitalization of Osaka and the Kansai region and to Japan’s international role by providing support for the development of decarbonized cities throughout Asia and beyond and by promoting transfers of environmental technologies.

Facilitating the involvement and collaboration of all stakeholders

Current environmental issues have an impact on many aspects of citizens' lives and businesses, so it is critical for citizens, businesses, economic organizations, environmental NGOs/NPOs, educational institutions, and governments to take proactive steps to establish a decarbonized society, promote recycling, and maintain a comfortable city environment.

For this reason, we are expanding the circle of interest in the environment from schools to the community, and to Osaka City as a whole, so that all stakeholders will take an interest in environmental issues, understand them correctly, raise their awareness, and take action to solve environmental issues. In addition, we are establishing partnerships with each entity and contributing to the achievement of the SDGs.