Estimation of Municipalities’ CO₂ Emissions for Realization of the “Zero Carbon Cities” considering the Amount of Renewable Energy and the Forest Absorption

Abstract

The number of municipalities declaring "2050 Zero Carbon City" is increasing, but many of these don’t plan concretely. In this study, the greenhouse gas emissions of municipalities are estimated by subtracting the amount of CO₂ reduction by renewable energy and the amount of CO₂ absorption by forests from the amount of CO₂ emissions from these municipalities. As a result, it is estimated that 1/5 of the municipalities in the Tohoku 7 prefectures are already zero carbon cities. These Zero Carbon Cities are more affected by the amount of CO₂ absorption by forests than the amount of CO₂ reduction by renewable energy. This study also reveals that as for the prefectural capitals, it is difficult to become Zero Carbon Cities by themselves, but for Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture and so on, it is possible to become Zero Carbon Cities by regional partnership with neighboring municipalities. According to the estimation of 2050, if at least 30% of the renewable energy potential is installed, about half of the municipalities in the Tohoku will become Zero Carbon Cities.