A Scheme of Participation of Inhabitants and Cooperation among Universities, Cities and Firms

Abstract

Hachioji City is located in the western inland part of Tokyo Metropolitan. The population and area measure of Hachioji City are about 530,000 and 186 km². Hachioji City established Environmental Citizens Conference to promote participation of inhabitants in 2002. The area of the city is divided into 6 Environmental Districts. A regional environmental evaluation index ‘Check and Do’ was produced cooperatively by Hachioji City and Chuo University in 2003 so that the new participation scheme works well. Hachioji City and Chuo University published the guide book of the environmental index and have organized and trained about 100 instructors who utilize the guild book effectively to improve regional environment. The environmental index aims at betterment in regional programs and policies of environment as well as environmental behaviors of inhabitants.

This Evaluation Index is composed by 61 items, and divided into 8 fields: Water and Sewage, Wastes and Resource Recycle, Energy, Natural Environment, Green and Development of City, Air quality Environment, Living Environment and Social Environment. Each item is evaluated on a scale from 0-2. Each Environmental District selects suitable items and evaluates the District. The full score is 100. One evaluation point is named as one eco. Chuo University analyses the diagnostic data and advise the betterment of environment.

This scheme of participation of inhabitants activates cooperation among the university, the city and the firm in Hino City and Siwa Town also. In the first, Hachioji city and Chuo university constructed cooperation in 2001. In 2002 and 2003, Tokyo Electric Company joins the cooperation. From 2004 to 2006, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology grants this cooperation.