# 3. Active role of local regions

The third major pillar is the role to be played by local regions.

The importance of agriculture and forestry in a low-carbon society is without precedent. Increasing the self-sufficiency level in food will cut $ CO_{2} $ emissions which occur when transporting food from abroad. The promotion of forestry will increase natural absorption of $ CO_{2} $ .

In future, local regions that play host to agricultural and forestry industries have an extremely important role also as a supplier or supply base of domestic energy such as biomass.

Achieving a low-carbon society means nothing other than local regions taking the lead in this direction. This would lead to local self-sufficiency in the production and consumption of both food and energy.

Although not widely known, a recent survey shows that as many as seventy-six municipalities already have more renewable energy resources than required to satisfy local consumer demand for power. By expanding such moves throughout the country we will be able to lead the world in this respect.

In order to expand such regional efforts and to have excellent examples replicated, we will select some ten environmental model cities from around the country and take innovative measures with broad support from the central government.

Large cities, medium-sized cities, small cities, agricultural villages and mountain villages throughout the country would each seek locally-suited methods to achieve major emissions reductions. Japan as a whole will achieve major reductions by creating a virtuous cycle, with the central government, various local regions and the people all supporting such efforts and each making use of the lessons learnt.

# 4. Having each citizen as protagonist

The fourth and final pillar is making each citizen the protagonist in this endeavour. The creation of a low-carbon society requires each citizen to act with an understanding of the meaning and importance of this goal as well as of the methods and burden involved.

The Japanese people are not to be spectators who merely sit back and observe the move towards a low-carbon society. Each citizen is an actor and protagonist. To achieve a low-carbon society it is essential for people to have knowledge, to envision a new society, to act and to propagate.

Enlightened people are already taking dynamic steps. In order to enable such people to do more and to reach out, the government should provide a framework which will induce people to alter their conduct in a way that promotes a low-carbon society. It should also provide the opportunity to alert those who are yet unaware the importance of such steps.

Education plays an extremely important role. We must introduce systems to teach and to learn about low-carbon and sustainable societies during compulsory education as well as at every level and occasion in the life-long process of learning.

We also need to change our lifestyles to bring about a low-carbon society. One way to share this awareness among the entire population is to introduce summer time. The ruling parties are among those who are studying this matter and I hope they will reach a conclusion as soon as possible.

I should also like to establish a “Cool Earth Day” as another way to change people’s way of thinking.

The G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit will begin on 7 July, which is the day of the Tanabata festival. There is a movement underway to encourage people around the country to turn their lights off all together at night on that day, admire the beauty of the Milky Way and remind ourselves of the importance of the earth’s environment.

This should not be a one-off event. I thus wish to designate 7 July as “Cool Earth Day” and make it a day not just to turn off the lights but for all Japanese citizens to make various efforts to remind themselves of the path they should take towards a low-carbon society.

Furthermore, we will look to NGOs and community groups around the country to play a leading role in communicating to the people around them about the importance of the environment, spread the message and carrying people forward. I intend to assist and expand such dynamic efforts.