Kimiko Hirata

Those are very live discussions still in Japan.

And some people in Japan oppose renewable energy because they're concerned about local environmental damage.

In addition, many people prioritize other issues than climate.

And people are busy, too.

We need to remove all of these barriers.

So I took another step.

I founded an independent think tank, Climate Integrate, to provide fact-based information that can accelerate energy transition.

Moving beyond just saying no, I sit down and talk with people with different views in the government and companies, and then try to build conviction in people to say yes for renewable energy.

We started by conducting a comprehensive analysis uniquely applied to the Japanese context.

And with that, we are more confident that it is definitely possible to shift our energy system to renewables with the abundant potential of solar and wind.

Having that clear vision, we showed the facts and conveyed the facts.

We also started to collaborate with cities, starting from three.

Toyo-Oka City in the western area is known for its onsen hot springs and ski resorts.

It is already experiencing climate change, such as reduced snowfall or extreme heat.

The city has now challenged itself to become a model of sustainable tourism by incorporating a nature-positive approach and decarbonization.

Ichikawa City, near Tokyo, is an area of high population density with a lot of residential buildings.

The city now promotes installing rooftop solar and improving energy efficiency for its housing, particularly targeting young families.

Sakata City, located in the north, is an area that has old coal-fired power plants, but it is also a very good location for offshore wind.

The city aims to revitalize its economy through offshore-related business and achieve a just transition away from fossil fuels and coal power.

I don't yet know if these efforts will get us to our vision.