Presentation of Yokohama City Initiatives at APFSD Side Event

On February 22, 2024, the CityNet Secretariat hosted the “Urban Engagement Space” as a side event of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), held annually by ESCAP in Bangkok to support follow-up and review of the progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the region. The City of Yokohama also participated in the event as a speaker. In line with the theme of the 11th APFSD, “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient, and innovative solutions in Asia and the Pacific,” the CityNet side event was entitled, “Urban Regeneration for Safe, Resilient, and Inclusive Cities in the Asia Pacific.”

From the City of Yokohama, Mr. Masafumi Shinagawa, Chief Representative, Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to Southeast and South Asia based in Bangkok, gave a presentation on Minato Mirai 21 as a case study of Yokohama’s urban revitalization and how the city has regenerated through urban development, including the Minato Mirai 21 project, against the backdrop of urban challenges Yokohama faced from the 1950s to 1970s. He also shared that ‘each resident has been educated about waste separation and recycling from an early age, fostering an awareness for keeping the city beautiful and clean. Also, in the Minato Mirai 21 district, utility poles, power lines, highways, etc. are all underground so that they do not disrupt the scenery. This high standard for clean and safe infrastructure is one of the things that makes the city attractive.’ Today, the Minato Mirai 21 district has become a city of diverse functions, including corporate headquarters, R&D facilities, music halls, universities, and MICE centers, in addition to offices, commercial facilities, and residences. The City of Yokohama aims to build a decarbonization model through public-private partnerships in collaboration with various companies in the district toward becoming carbon neutral in 2050.

For more information, on this session and presentation materials, please visit this page.