Creating Rich Cities That Coexist with the Environment for the Next Generation

Hiromichi IWASA Vice Chairman, Nippon Keidanren President and CEO, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

The debate over global warming is growing once again with the COP15 meetings just around the corner. One issue among the general public is CO₂ reduction, and it is important to transform entire cities where people live into low carbon cities. In order to do so, we need to create an intensive urban structure which is compact and efficient. This requires proactive application of the latest environmental technology — a Japanese strength — to cities. In other words, unless solar panels, smart grids and other products receiving attention are incorporated into eco-houses, power grids and other facets of the urban infrastructure, they will not be effective. In fact, a major key to solving this issue is precisely the fusion of urban policy with the latest technology.

Furthermore, if we analyze cities from the perspective of coexistence with the environment, mere conversion to low carbon cities is inadequate. There is a clear need to analyze cities from the perspective of harmony with nature. We must utilize the growing public concern over coexistence with the environment and link this trend to the creation of new added value. Urban landscapes rich in waterscapes and greenery can provide healing to people and assist in increasing the productivity of working people as urban amenities. In turn, they are an important element in the rebirth of cities and development of tourism. In Japan, an issue under debate is the removal of the Metropolitan Expressway, which is elevated over the Nihonbashi River. Meanwhile in Seoul, South Korea, part of an expressway was removed and the river that had existed was restored. As a result, the transformed area has become a gathering place for citizens in their leisure and its pleasant urban landscape has become a renowned tourist destination.

As competition between cities intensifies, cities will have to become full of charm and life and exude security and safety so that people will want to continue living or working there as it makes them proud and they have an affinity towards the city. It is important that these factors also make cities destinations that people from all over the world will want to visit. This requires cities to not only provide a foundation to support daily life and economic activities, but also to become rich and sustainable cities that coexist with the environment, while effectively demonstrating and utilizing their unique histories and traditions, nature, and the culture and lifestyles of their residents. Today, we bear the important responsibility of creating this type of city to leave to the next generation.