SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 City Leaders Program Communiqué

(Preamble)

1. The global situation is constantly changing, but recent years have seen an acceleration
in the speed of these changes. Global issues, such as unprecedented weather disasters
arising from climate change and an unstable international situation due to conflicts
between states, are growing more complex. Industry is also entering a period of structural
change, which includes the progression of green and digital transformation along with
startups driving global innovation and growth. On top of this, the COVID-19 pandemic
has led to shifts in the functions expected of cities and in people’s values. Cities are now
caught in the middle of this complicated web of global dynamics.

The twenty-first century is called the “age of cities,” with cities standing on the frontline
of response to challenges such as the climate crisis, natural disasters, future pandemic
preparation, and establishing respect for diversity. The tense global situation now makes
it necessary for us to cooperate with one another, combine our collective wisdom and
experience, and take concrete action.

Through a global network of cities, by cities, for cities, we will facilitate continuous
exchanges and seek brighter prospects for the future, while also further deepening
intercity collaboration in order to address the common challenges outlined in this
communiqué, which we must tackle. Additionally, by leveraging the expertise of diverse
societal actors such as startups, we will accelerate our efforts to solve these challenges
and seek sustainability for cities.

2. In May 2024, city leaders representing 45 cities around the world engaged in three days
of discussions under the theme of “A better future through innovation for a just and
sustainable world” at the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 City Leaders Program, an international
conference held in Tokyo, Japan.

Since the summit of city leaders held in 2023, best practices concerning specific key
challenges were shared among cities through the activities of working groups, which were
agreed to be established at that summit. Moving forward, we will implement projects
utilizing the technologies of startups to find solutions to urban challenges, as well as
intercity technological exchanges aimed at sharing wisdom and expertise. By
implementing such initiatives through practical intercity collaboration, we will work to
realize a just and sustainable world.

(Realizing Inclusive and Just Societies)

3. The importance of a just society that embraces all people is the common underlying
philosophy of cities seeking to realize a sustainable world. Guided by this concept, while
receiving the participation of our residents, we will promote wellbeing, women’s
empowerment, a healthy and long-life society, barrier-free access, and culture and sports,
for the realization of more just, sustainable and cohesive societies.

4. Promoting wellbeing
The formation of an inclusive society where no one becomes socially isolated requires
the construction of safety nets to support those who are socially vulnerable. We aim to
realize a world where everyone can reap the benefits of prosperity.

To that end, we will address the various challenges confronting our residents and realize
a society that embraces people’s concerns. This will be done by supporting persons with
disabilities, the economically disadvantaged, sexual minorities, and others who are
socially disadvantaged; providing housing where people can live with peace of mind;
providing children and youth with quality education and promoting their social
participation; and at the same time, expanding and strengthening social welfare. In this
way, we will promote urban well-being by embedding in the social infrastructure such
support for people facing economic, physical, social and other challenges.

5. Promoting women’s empowerment
Women accounted for 40 percent, less than half, of the world’s workforce in 2022. This
makes it essential to provide support for women's economic independence and political
participation.

Specifically, we will support the social participation of women and promote their
economic independence through vocational training and other such measures, cultivate
female leaders, and improve women's political participation. We will also work to build
an environment to secure the safety and security of women.

6. Realizing healthy, long-life societies
We must strive to build societies in which members of all generations can lead healthy
and long lives. The United Nations has stated that the world must address the issue of
aging in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. As the percentage of older 
workers is on an increasing trend with the aging of the population, there is a need to
create a work environment in which older residents can play a more active role.

Specifically, in order to realize a society in which all older adults can sense that their
lives have purpose and to create a healthy, long-life society, we will work to improve
services and infrastructure to support their daily lives and ensure their health care. In
addition, we will promote efforts to realize social and economic inclusion including
measures to improve the labor market environment and build an environment that
enables post-retirement reskilling and re-employment.

7. Promoting barrier-free accessibility
The promotion of accessibility is crucial for allowing everyone to lead comfortable lives
in society. Removing people's mental and physical barriers and ensuring that everyone
can utilize urban infrastructure, facilities and services will contribute to the realization
of an inclusive and just society.

We will also further advance urban development to design cities that provide all persons
with access to public facilities and public transportation, and strive to build an
environment from the aspects of both hard and soft infrastructure.

8. Promoting culture and sports
Culture and sports enrich minds and contribute to the promotion of health and the
realization of an inclusive society. Accordingly, we will promote the creation of an
environment where everyone can enjoy culture and sports through efforts including
encouraging local interaction through culture and sports, and generating opportunities
for community cultural and sports activities.

Through measures such as promoting Para sports, we will promote interactions with
diverse people, and seek to realize inclusive cities where diversity is respected and
everybody shines.

(Building Safe and Secure Cities)

9. There has been a five-fold increase in the number of global extreme weather events over
the past 50 years due to climate change, with recent years seeing meteorological disasters
such as storms and flooding increasing in intensity and frequency. Large-scale
earthquakes and other natural disasters can also strike at any time. In just this year, the
January 1st earthquake striking the Noto Peninsula and the April 3rd earthquake in eastern
Taiwan resulted in many casualties. We cities extend our deepest sympathies to all those
affected by these disasters. To maintain brisk urban activities, it is necessary to build cities
that are resilient to all kinds of disasters. In addition, for all people to feel safe living in
cities, it is imperative for local communities to be safe and comfortable and to secure
sufficient amounts of drinking water, food, and energy.

To this end, we will seek to realize cities where everyone can live safely and with peace
of mind through efforts that include building resilient cities, strengthening people and
community ties, and ensuring the security of drinking water and other essential resources.

10. Building resilient cities
Extreme weather disasters brought on by the climate crisis are growing more severe, and
natural disasters such as large-scale earthquakes are also striking all corners of the world.
As these disasters are having a major impact on people’s lives and the economy, it is
critical to build cities resilient to disasters.

While fully drawing on disaster mitigation technologies, we will work to enhance the
awareness of our residents even more through disaster risk mapping and the formulation
of disaster mitigation plans, as well as providing them with disaster information and
evacuation information. We will also work to develop and upgrade disaster mitigation
infrastructure, prepare emergency relief supplies, harness cutting-edge technologies to
secure power and communications in times of disaster, and ensure data preservation.
Through development of such hard and soft infrastructure, we seek to realize safe and
secure cities.

11. Strengthening people and community ties
So that our residents can feel safe as they go about their daily lives, it is indispensable to
create an environment where people support each other while respecting diversity and
recognizing each other’s individuality, and to improve safety and security through crime
prevention.

To that end, we will energize local communities that form the bedrock for activities by
residents to assist each other in times of emergency, and also create inclusive gathering
places. In addition, in response to crimes, which are diversifying, along with sending out
information to communities using the wisdom of our cities and the latest technologies,
we will work together with the communities and build momentum for crime prevention
activities by volunteers. Through such efforts, we aim to realize societies where people
can live with peace of mind.

12. Ensuring drinking water, food and energy security
Drinking water, food, and energy are indispensable for the lives of residents. Cities play
an important role in securing a stable supply of these essential resources.

While strengthening intercity collaboration, we will promote the construction of
sustainable water supply systems to ensure daily water security by developing the water
infrastructure utilizing cutting-edge technologies, as well as engaging in efforts such as
enhancing the seismic resistance of facilities in preparation for earthquakes. We will also
work to ensure food security amid challenges such as rising demand for food due to the
growing global population, reduction in food production due to climate change, and
delays and disruptions in international food supply chains. Furthermore, while sharing
our knowledge, we will work together on matters related to energy security, including
the promotion of energy conservation, greater adoption of renewable energy sources to
enhance energy self-sufficiency, and the utilization of storage batteries.

(Promotion of Environmental Measures)

13. Rapid changes in our global environment, now also referred to as “global boiling,” are
exacerbating the risks of natural disasters, which pose a threat to the safe and secure lives
of residents in cities across the world. In order to build cities where even future
generations of residents can live with peace of mind, it is imperative that we take action
against climate change. Furthermore, as there are regions where factors such as
urbanization and population growth are accelerating environmental degradation, there is
a pressing need for environmental protection and the conservation of water resources.

To address such circumstances and build a sustainable future, we will promote zeroemissions and the transition to a circular economy, protect and conserve the natural
environment, and build cities in harmony with nature.

14. Promoting zero-emissions:
Climate change is a major environmental crisis faced by all cities, and promoting zeroemissions is essential in creating sustainable cities. To drive the transition to cleaner,
next-generation energy sources such as solar, wind and hydrogen, we will accelerate the
decarbonization of various sectors and industry as a whole, in addition to the societal
adoption of renewable energies and other technologies.

We will also work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through ZEVs (zero-emission
vehicles), as well as integrate renewable energy technologies such as solar power
systems into buildings. Furthermore, we will engage in a wide range of measures that
contribute to decarbonization, such as encouraging residents to shift to eco-friendly
lifestyles, including the use of bicycles, with the aim to realize zero-emission cities.
Green hydrogen is also a next-generation energy anticipated to become a mainstay of
decarbonization efforts. Although the use of hydrogen is now progressing in some regions,
the spread of hydrogen use in various sectors and the development of technologies for the
utilization of green hydrogen are still works in progress. Through intercity collaboration
and collaboration with stakeholders around our cities, we will promote initiatives to
expand the use of hydrogen and develop technologies.

15. Promoting the transition to a circular economy:
Presently, a third of the world’s waste is not properly managed or treated. A circular
economy helps reduce environmental impact and mitigate adverse effects on climate
change and ecosystems, while also contributing to environmental conservation.

With the cooperation of residents, we will push the transition to a circular economy
forward by promoting more proper ways to reduce and properly dispose of waste and by
encouraging recycling.

16. Protecting the natural environment:
Protecting the natural environment is indispensable for building more sustainable cities.
Population growth and further urbanization lead to worsening air and water pollution,
while factors such as the improper disposal of waste cause pollution in our oceans. These
result in the loss of biodiversity, which not only threatens the health of residents, but also
destroys natural ecosystems.

We will engage in air and water pollution measures, such as inhibiting the release of
harmful substances from exhaust gas, industrial effluent, and other pollutants into the
environment. At the same time, we will advance the building of urban infrastructure that
will enable more appropriate treatment of wastewater. Furthermore, we will take efforts
to conserve biodiversity by securing habitats for wild fauna and flora in all regions, from
cities to rural areas and islands.

17. Building cities in harmony with nature:
As an absorber of carbon dioxide, greenery contributes to the mitigation of global
warming. It also protects rich water sources and serves to improve the disaster resilience 
of cities through its water retention features.

As harmony between urban functions and the natural environment has been highly
valued in recent years, we will promote the conservation of forests and other green spaces,
the creation of green spaces in line with urban development, and the introduction of
green infrastructure that harnesses the various functions of greenery. With the
cooperation and collaboration of residents and other diverse stakeholders, we will press
on with these initiatives and realize sustainable cities in harmony with nature.

（Conclusion）

18. In conclusion, with the aim to protect and improve the lives of our residents, in order to
expand cooperation among cities to realize more inclusive and just societies, build safe
and secure cities, and promote environmental measures, we hereby adopt the
abovementioned matters as the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 City Leaders Program
Communiqué. We hope solving issues shared by the participating cities will also
contribute to resolving global challenges for the realization of a just and sustainable
world.