Event report on Circular Yokohama’s “National Sun Yat-sen University’s Study Tour on Local Decarbonization Initiatives”

From July 11 to 12, 2024, Circular Yokohama, Harch’s online platform promoting a circular lifestyle in Yokohama, welcomed National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) from Taiwan for a study tour focused on local decarbonization.

*This article is a reprint of the Circular Yokohama “National Sun Yat-sen University’s Study Tour on Yokohama’s Decarbonization Initiatives”

Report on “National Sun Yat-sen University’s Study Tour on Yokohama’s Decarbonization Initiatives”

This open program, organized by NSYSU, included 14 master’s and doctoral students specializing in public administration, accompanied by two academic staffs.

Discussion on decarbonization with Harch Inc.

The tour began with a visit to the “qlaytion gallery” the headquarters of Circular Yokohama. Here, the NSYSU students engaged in a discussion with representatives from Harch Inc., the organization behind Circular Yokohama.

The session covered a wide range of topics, including Yokohama’s initiatives as a leading Japan’s decarbonization city, Harch Inc.’s unique approaches to power offsets and reforestation, and its status as a B Corporation™, an international certification for companies with high public benefit standards.

The students posed diverse questions, such as the mechanism behind Japan’s unique carbon offset certification, “J-Credit,” and how Circular Yokohama’s community events contribute to social sustainability and decarbonization. They showed particular interest in “digital sustainability” efforts, asking about specific actions required for decarbonization in the digital realm and suggesting potential themes for joint research with universities.

In addition to the discussion, the students toured the YOKOHAMA CIRCULAR DESIGN MUSEUM and sampled locally made mikan (mandarin orange) juice from the Yokohama Reuse Bin Project, which promotes local consumption and reuse culture. The short tour provided them a tangible experience of Yokohama’s regional circular economy.

Visit to Kanazawa Fishing Port for blue carbon initiatives

On July 12, the NSYSU delegation visited Kanazawa Fishing Port in Kanazawa Ward to learn about blue carbon initiatives, including kelp farming by Sachiumi Heroes.

In the first part of the visit, participants handled freshly harvested kelp and learned about the current state and challenges of blue carbon at Kanazawa Fishing Port, as well as the economic benefits of blue carbon both domestically and internationally.

The second part featured a hands-on experience of making kelp shabu-shabu (hotpot). This activity highlighted the dual benefits of blue carbon initiatives: their positive environmental impact and the joy of consuming the harvested kelp.

Postscript

During the discussion at qlaytion gallery, we highlighted our status as a B Corporation™. This led to a high-level discussion on potential cross-border collaborations leveraging the B Corp certification, noting the comparable number of B Corp-certified companies in Taiwan and Japan. The high recognition and interest in B Corp among participants underscored its growing global significance.

Although the two-hour discussion was insufficient to cover all topics, it was heartening to see the deep interest from NSYSU participants in Harch Inc. and Circular Yokohama’s efforts. We hope this experience provided valuable learning for the students.

We remain committed to advancing decarbonization through business activities, keeping a keen eye on developments in Taiwan and the context of global B Corp initiatives.

[Reference page] National Sun Yat-sen University’s Study Tour on Yokohama’s Decarbonization Initiatives | Circular Yokohama
[Related site] Circular Yokohama