## (10) Implementation of $ CO_{2} $ sink measures through urban greening

Urban greening has been internationally recognized as a “vegetation recovery activity” which is subject to be reported as the amount of greenhouse gas absorption based on the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan also recognizes this activity as creating low carbon cities because of improvements to the thermal environment through mitigating urban heat island effects, as well as the heightening of public awareness to its significance and effects. Based on the “Master Plan for Parks and Open Spaces”, devised by municipalities concerning overall greenery, the improvements to urban parks, the greening of roads, ports and harbors and private properties are being actively undertaken.

## 3 Promotion of the Use of Renewable Energy

Based on the energy constraints after the Great East Japan Earthquake, while the future utilization of renewable energy has become an important issue in the government, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in particular has been promoting the introduction of ways to utilize the potential of renewable energy of resources such as the vast infrastructure space of facilities like airports, water flowing in rivers, and the abundant and stable sewage biomass.

## (1) Promotion of the use of marine renewable energy

Japan that is surrounded on all four sides by the sea, and is blessed with abundant marine renewable energy.

Of these, the wind power over the ocean, which is vast compared to land and where a stable, strong wind blows, is expected to be widely used in the future and interest is increasing especially in the port and harbor areas.

Therefore, the Bureau of Port and Harbor has decided to organize the installation procedure to the port and harbor and first published in June 2012 “Regarding Wind Power at Ports and Harbors – The Manual for Coexistence with the Administration and Operation of the Port and Harbor”.

This year, the study continues on the technology guidelines, which will become the guidelines for decision-making by the port administrator, to confirm that the original function of the port and harbor will be ensured when wind power is introduced to the port and harbor.

Also, in Japan, where there is very little area of shallow ocean, floating offshore wind power that floats on the ocean has been considered most promising, so in order to assure safe operations in the harsh natural environment of offshore conditions, “Safety Guidelines” was compiled.

Furthermore, in the future, even for ocean energy such as wave power and tidal stream, we have decided to develop a system to ensure the safety of power generating facilities such as float structure power generation facility, etc., and efforts to spread the use of marine renewable energy in cooperation with the relevant ministries and agencies will be ongoing.

## (2) Promoting small hydroelectric generation

As initiatives toward a low carbon society, the implementation of small hydroelectric generation by using rivers is being pushed forward. Specifically, for the promotion and dissemination of small hydroelectric power generation, a thorough utilization of unused energy is being conducted through the introduction of a registration system of dependent power generation based on the River Law revisions, a project development support by consultation and survey data provision of the irrigation use application process at the contact desk of the Regional Development Bureau, and support for the placement of a small hydroelectric power facility for erosion control, to introduce aggressive management of the power generation facilities of the dams under the direct control of the Ministry.

## (3) Promotion of the use of Sewage Biomass

Through the use of PPP/PFI, we will promote the energy utilization of sewage sludge by the effective use of bio-gas and solid fuel, as well as the use of sewage heat.