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

Urban greening is considered “re-vegetation activities” which is subject to the greenhouse gas sink reports according to the Kyoto Protocol. Based on the basic plans for greening as formulated by the municipalities, we are promoting maintenance of city parks and the greening of communal facilities and private land, such as roads and ports.

MLIT is also working on public awareness regarding the meaning and effect of $ CO_{2} $ sink measures by making cities more low carbon and green by alleviating the heat island phenomenon through improvement in the thermal environment by things like improving ground covering.

## 3 Promotion of the Use of Renewable Energy

According to the “Energy Master Plan” which was approved by the Cabinet in April 2014, and based on the fact that the introduction of re-usable energy is being expedited as much as possible for three years starting in 2013, MLIT is promoting use of the re-usable energy potential in extensive infrastructure spaces like airport facilities, as well as rivers and streams, and the stable yet abundant 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”. In March 2015, to work towards the structural stabilization of ocean wind power facilities and securing the safety of ship navigation, MLIT published the (proposed) technical guidelines that will become the technical criterion to be used in the screening for water occupancy permits.

For marine energy such as wave and tidal power, MLIT is working on guidelines to secure the safety/environmental aspects of floating power generating facilities and promoting the realization of new re-useable marine energy in cooperation with the concerned government ministries.

## (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, MLIT is working on the thorough use of unused energy by the promotion of subsidiary power generating based on a registration system, providing project formation support by field contact points, and support for the introduction of small-scale hydropower facilities at sediment control dams, as well as the proactive introduction of power generation facilities for dam management at dams directly controlled by MLIT.

## (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 use of bio-gas and solid fuel, as well as the use of sewage heat as renewable energy heat.

## (4) Promotion of Solar Power Generation using Infrastructure Space

Based on the changes in energy supply and demand triggered by the Great Eastern Japanese Earthquake, and in addition to the effective utilization of the vast spaces of sewage treatment plants, ports and harbors, and airport facilities, steps have been taken to ensure the installation and placement of solar power generation facilities by public entities in public infrastructure spaces, such as government buildings and railway stations, and for private businesses that can install such facilities in roads and urban parks.