Japan aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, with Kawasaki City targeting a 50% CO2 reduction by FY2030. A new pilot program, led by Fujitsu, ANA X, Toshiba Data, and Kawasaki City, is testing a national database to measure citizen-driven CO2 reductions.
A new pilot programme in Kawasaki City, Japan, is testing how digital tools can encourage environmentally-conscious behaviour and track CO2 reductions.
Fujitsu, ANA X, Toshiba Data, and Kawasaki City launched the initiative on February 27. Residents and workers used smartphone apps to monitor their carbon footprint.
The programme is the first in Japan to use a national database developed by the Ministry of the Environment to visualise CO2 reductions. By integrating mobility, purchasing, and environmental action data from multiple apps in a single platform, the initiative aims to measure the impact of everyday actions on carbon emissions.
Participants can access their individual CO2 reduction data through Eco Potential, a web-based application developed by Fujitsu.
How the pilot works
Participants will download one or more of the participating companies’ apps and provide basic details like age and residential area. Each app tracks specific types of data:
- Fujitsu provides the Green Carb0n Club app, which collects data on environmental scenes.
- ANA X contributes travel data through ANA Pocket, which gives users points for various modes of transportation.
- Toshiba Data integrates electronic receipt data from SmartReceipt, a service that digitises purchase details.
The collected data is standardised and uploaded into Eco Potential, where participants may see how their choices help to reduce CO2 emissions. Researchers will analyse the social benefit of their efforts and identify important components for wider use of the assessment method.
Kawasaki City’s decarbonisation goals
Japan has set a national goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030 compared to FY2013 levels. Kawasaki City is aligning with this effort, aiming for a 50% reduction in overall CO2 emissions and at least a 45% reduction in household emissions by 2030.
The pilot is also connected to Decokatsu, a national movement encouraging behavioural and lifestyle changes for carbon neutrality. In this framework, the POSITIVE ACTION Initiative (PAI) promotes integrating decarbonisation efforts into daily life.
The pilot serves as a step toward applying standardised CO2 reduction metrics on a larger scale.
Next steps
Following the pilot, Fujitsu, ANA X, Toshiba Data, and Kawasaki City plan to investigate more ways to encourage sustainable behaviour and standardise CO2 tracking. Potential future developments include integrating more data sources into Eco Potential and researching possible ways to monetise CO2 reduction, like voluntary carbon credits and community-based benefits.
The initiative’s goal in testing these digital tools is to provide insights into how technology may support broader sustainability efforts and assist cities in tracking progress toward decarbonisation.
