Japan expands green spaces in urban areas

In Japan, as construction and development projects progress, the coverage of green spaces in cities is also expanding, Itsuhiro Miura, Deputy Director-General of the Urban and Housing Department at Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, stated during an event held within the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

According to him, urban greening is crucial for ensuring comfort, mitigating the impacts of climate change, preserving biodiversity, and enhancing the attractiveness of cities:

"A distinctive feature of Japan's urban greening is the effort to expand green areas through redevelopment projects carried out by the private sector. For example, Otemachi, once densely packed with office buildings in Tokyo's central business district, has undergone redevelopment that not only improved business functions but also created diverse natural environments within the office landscape," the official noted.

Miura recalled that in 2024, Japan amended the Urban Greening Act to establish a system requiring the private sector to protect green spaces: "These projects are evaluated in terms of climate change mitigation, biodiversity, and improved human well-being. Similar systems exist in other countries, but we consider our proactive approach to valuing greenery an innovative initiative. Thus, every time construction and development projects are carried out in Japan, the amount of greenery in cities increases. Japan strives to create a positive cycle between development approaches and the environment."