Study on the Low-Carbon Social Model in the Existing Area of Eco-Model City

This study began in October 2010, and in spring of 2011, “local area vitalization” was added as an additional focus to the study's initial focus of “local area low carbonization efforts.” From the beginning, the target site was Yahata Higashi Ward, and this year, the study identifies three topics that pertain to the effective realization of vitalization and low carbonization efforts of the extant urban district.

The first involves the search for “local meta contents” that enable the establishment of specific industries that are rooted in the local area. In Kitakyushu City, many efforts such as the classification of “environmental industries” as substitution industries have been carried out, but in terms of actual substitutive functionality, such efforts are far from being quantitatively sufficient. The second pertains to the concretization of various living environment improvement strategies that include the revamping and renovating of city blocks and the implementation of improvements in transportation and exchange systems throughout the three model areas that were designated last year. Finally, the third topic pertains to the ability of area management organizations composed primarily of local citizens to accurately estimate the potentials of those involved to make informed policy decisions.

Measures to address these three topics are being carried out through the project’s three subgroups. Regarding the first topic, through interviews with local businesses, we have expanded our personal networks with citizens of Yahata City, and have explored the potentials of substitutive industries. Regarding the second topic, we have attempted an experimental study focusing primarily on the Edamitsu area. Finally, concerning the third topic, a symposium organized by a citizens’ group was held on September 29, and the possibilities of citizens’ proactive engagement in area management were considered.

Currently, we are creating a “promotion scenario” for the three model city blocks, and are striving to specify the conditions needed for effective “city block value creation” – a challenge that area management public-interest corporations in these local areas face.