The Experience and Enlightenment from Multi-scale Regional Coordinated Carbon Reduction in Japan
SHAN Zhuoran, ZHU Junqing, YUAN Man, LUO Wenjing, CHEN Yuedi
Abstract：
Environmental problems have spillover effect, and multi-scale regional synergistic governance plays an important role in environmental management. Focusing on carbon-reducing metropolitan areas, low carbon cities and decarbonization pilot zones, this paper examines the stage-by-stage characteristics, policy linkages and typical practices of Japan’s multi-scale regional coordinated strategies for carbon reduction, and compares with China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality practices. The study finds that Japan’s multi-scale regional coordinated strategy for carbon reduction focuses on legal framework constraints, overall deployment of the strategy, sectoral coordination and response, upgrading of planning objectives, and monitoring and evaluation feedback. Multi-scale regional coordinated carbon reduction initiatives have different focuses. Carbon-reducing metropolitan areas emphasize the shaping of low-carbon patterns, the building of efficient cross-city transportation networks, and the establishment of cross-boundary governance and collaboration mechanisms; low-carbon cities emphasize compactness, strengthened land security, prominent transportation management, and clear decarbonization space; and decarbonization pilot zones emphasize demonstration and leadership effects, refined implementation frameworks, multi-party cooperation, comprehensive safeguards, and full-process evaluation. Drawing on Japan’s experiences, multi-scale synergistic carbon reduction works in China should focus on strengthening legal safeguards, perfecting the overall route, reinforcing target constraints, refining synergistic governance programs, and constructing a multi-scale transmission mechanism.