G-NETS Leaders Summit Communiqué

1. The world is currently facing the climate crisis, the threat of infectious diseases, and other serious
risks. With the addition of issues such as intensifying conflict between states and energy prices
soaring as a result, the world’s problems are becoming increasingly complex.
In order to address these challenges and realize just and sustainable societies into the future, cities,
which are closely concerned with the livelihood of their citizens and are at the front lines ofresponse, must go beyond differences that exist between states and work together by rallying theirknowledge and experience. Now is the time to take concrete actions.
Mindful of the importance of achieving economic growth that leaves no one behind and assisting
those affected by disasters and conflicts surpassing national borders, through ongoing exchange
through G-NETS, a network of cities, by cities, for cities, we will fulfill our important role ofmaking societies sustainable. We will aspire for a world that is peaceful and stable, and share ourknowledge on common challenges raised in this communiqué that must be addressed by cities,and build our relations. We will also utilize the knowledge of startups and other various players.
2. In February and March 2023, we gathered in Tokyo, Japan, for the G-NETS Leaders Summit,
which was held on the theme of “realizing just and sustainable societies with an eye to a postCOVID world.” Here, leaders from 34 cities engaged in discussions over the course of three days.
Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is not a return to pre-COVID society, but presents theopportunity to aim for a society that is more just and sustainable. Societal changes brought on by
global challenges, such as the climate crisis and COVID-19, will be considered from the threeperspectives of (1) connections among people, (2) the environment surrounding cities, and (3)safety and security, and we will promote initiatives to “realize inclusive and just societies,” “build
safe and secure cities,” and “respond to environmental issues.”(Realizing Inclusive and Just Societies)
3. Diversity highlights individuality and is the driving force for innovations that create new values.
Building inclusive societies that embrace diversity is extremely important for shaping a future
where each individual can shine. To that end, we will focus on the socially disadvantaged, andwhile receiving citizen participation, work for a healthy, long-life society, gender equality, thepromotion of barrier-free accessibility, as well as the promotion of sports and culture, youth

exchanges between cities, and the realization of intercultural cohesion.
4. Realizing healthy, long-life societies:
Individuals aged 65 and older are projected to rise from 8.3 percent of the global population in2015 to 17.8 percent by 2060. This aging of the population is expected to progress rapidly andbecome a global issue. However, some regions have not yet adequately prepared for the aging of
their societies. Therefore, we will aim for societies in which members of all generations can live
healthy and long lives. In particular, we will work for the social participation of the elderly and toprovide them with living, educational and medical support with the goal of realizing healthy andlong-life societies.
5. Realizing gender equality:
The circumstances faced by women have improved over the past several decades, with areduction in the gender gap in education and health. Nevertheless, many women in the world still
face disadvantages in social participation and economic status. To realize human rights for all,irrespective of gender, we will work for greater engagement, social participation and theempowerment of women.
6. Promoting barrier-free accessibility:
Cities have a major role to play in removing physical and mental barriers and creating anenvironment that makes it easier for people to lead their lives, and need to promote barrier-freeaccessibility in public facilities and public transportation. However, when viewed globally, there
are regional differences in the promotion of accessibility, and it can be said that a sufficientenvironment has not yet been prepared in some regions. Therefore, we will strengthen intercity
cooperation for the promotion of accessibility.
7. Promoting sports, culture, youth exchange between cities, and intercultural cohesion:
Sports and culture, such as the arts, play a major role in mental and physical wellness. This makes
it necessary to stimulate the promotion of culture and sports. Specifically, the COVID-19
pandemic has limited people’s physical activity, with physical decline, obesity, and deteriorating
mental health growing more serious over a broad range of generations. Therefore, we will
strengthen cooperation among cities to promote sports and culture, youth exchange between cities,and intercultural cohesion,(Response to Environmental Issues)
8. Climate change is developing into an issue that threatens the future of humanity. The achievement

of zero emissions has become one of our planet’s most important goals to curb climate change.
Environmental problems related to waste, the air, and water resources are growing more serious
due to rapid urbanization and population growth in cities, and are having enormous impacts on
people’s lives and health and on biodiversity. To address these issues, we will work to achieve
zero emissions through measures such as promoting energy conservation, expanding the use ofrenewable energy sources, and utilizing green hydrogen and will engage in efforts such as
promoting a circular economy and other measures against waste, promoting air and river pollution
measures, urban greenery, and securing water resources.
9. Achieving zero emissions:
Many cities are working for decarbonization to achieve zero emissions, but they are facing hurdles
due to the substantial investments and expert knowledge needed to promote energy saving, thetransition to renewable energy, and the utilization of green hydrogen.
Cities particularly need to reduce CO2 emissions from buildings. At the same time, there are highexpectations that decarbonization can be promoted by involving companies and otherstakeholders. Therefore, we will promote measures while strengthening cooperation among cities
in such areas as promoting energy saving in buildings, expanding the use of solar power, utilizing
geothermal power generation and storage batteries, promoting green transportation byintroducing public transportation systems and expanding the use of zero emission vehicles(ZEVs) and bicycles, and creating energy funds.
As a next generation energy source, green hydrogen is expected to become a cornerstone fordecarbonization. However, while the use of hydrogen has been progressing in some regions, theexpanded use of hydrogen in a diversity of fields and technology for the use of green hydrogenare still under development. Therefore, we will work with each other and with relevant
stakeholders to promote initiatives to expand hydrogen utilization and for technologicaldevelopments.
10. Promoting waste measures:With the global population forecasted to rise, there are concerns that the increase in waste will
also become a substantial challenge. Cities must promote measures to reduce waste by raising
the awareness of not only businesses, but their citizens as well. For this purpose, while promoting
cooperation among cities, we will promote initiatives for realizing a circular economy and more
effective recycling utilizing advanced methods.

11. Promoting measures to prevent air and water pollution and advancing the greening of cities:
As the world’s population continues to increase and economic and industrial growth progress, airand river pollution caused by human daily activities and economic activities is worsening. Cities
take on the important role of working to prevent the release of harmful substances, such as
exhaust gases and wastewater by companies and citizens, and promoting the proper treatment ofsuch substances. Therefore, while promoting cooperation among cities, we will advance efforts
to prevent air and water pollution.
In addition, the greening of cities is anticipated as one solution that will contribute to theabsorption of carbon emissions and air quality improvement. Increasing greenery in cities canalso help to mitigate the heat island effect through heat absorption and cooling, to preserve
biodiversity, and to enhance flood disaster mitigation by improving groundwater retention anddrainage. Recognizing that city-led initiatives to increase urban greenery are essential, we willleverage cooperation among cities to promote initiatives for that purpose.
12. Water resource protection and management:
As one of the earth’s natural resources, water resources are essential to the lives of people. In
some areas of the world, however, there is no access to safe water because adequate water supply
and sewer technologies have yet to be adopted. From the standpoint of building a circular economy,
there is also the need to properly manage our precious water resources through water reclamation.
Therefore, while strengthening cooperation among cities, we will advance efforts for thedevelopment of water supply and sewer technologies and construction of infrastructure throughout
the world.
(Building Safe and Secure Cities)
13. To make our cities safe and secure, in addition to preparing for climate disasters such as thefrequently occurring torrential rains and droughts that threaten lives around the world and properly
dealing with such events, there is also the need to appropriately implement infectious disease
countermeasures and to secure the infrastructure and food supplies essential for stability inpeople’s lives. Therefore, we will work to build more resilient cities, including integrating climatechange adaptation to mitigate natural disasters, which are intensifying due to the climate crisis, toensure energy and food security, and to realize enhanced measures to counter pandemics causedby the coronavirus or unknown viruses.
14. Building more resilient cities through climate adaptation and other measures to mitigate natural
disasters intensifying due to the climate crisis:Due to climate change, natural disasters have become increasingly severe in recent years, having
a major impact on people's lives and the economy. Since cities have a major role to play when anatural disaster or other such emergency occurs, it is necessary to develop disaster-resilient cities.
To that end, by leveraging cooperation among cities, strengthening measures for the development
of disaster mitigation infrastructure and disaster response based on long-term plans and expert
predictions, and utilizing digital technologies, we will work to build more resilient cities thatimplement both climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
15. Ensuring energy and food security:
Against the backdrop of the situation in the Ukraine and other factors, the energy supply-demandbalance continues to be tight worldwide. This situation, along with the resulting food supply
shortage and soaring prices, is casting a great shadow over people’s lives and social activities.
Therefore, we will work to share knowledge related to the promotion of energy efficiency,
diversification of methods of generating electricity, including the use of renewable energy sources,
the use of storage batteries, and other means to achieve energy security, as well as matters related
to food security, including measures to counter price hikes.
16. Strengthening measures for pandemic response:
The COVID-19 outbreak, which became a global pandemic in 2020, has continued to have a major
impact on the lives of people and economies around the world. Amid concerns over new viruses
spreading in the future, cities play an enormous role in preventing pandemics and taking action
when a pandemic occurs, including organizing systems for the provision of vaccinations, placing
restrictions on the movement of residents, and providing economic support. Through cooperation
among cities, we will work to strengthen measures for pandemic response, including measures toprevent pandemics from developing in the first place.
17. Aid for the earthquake that directly struck southeast Turkey
We cities express our heartfelt condolences for the large-scale earthquake that directly struck
southeast Turkey on February 6, 2023, and had devastating consequences with many people killed
or injured. We will endeavor to quickly provide necessary aid to help the people in the disasterstricken areas of the Republic of Turkey and the Syrian Arab Republic in overcoming this difficult
situation.
18. In conclusion, to protect and improve the lives of citizens, we shall engage in efforts to expand
cooperation among cities to realize more inclusive and just societies, build safe and secure cities,
and create an environment that facilitates response to climate issues. It is with such aspirations

that we hereby adopt the Tokyo Declaration 2023. We hope that utilizing G-NETS to solve
challenges shared by cities will contribute to resolving global challenges to realize sustainable
societies.