The Planetary Health Project at Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) has submitted four project proposals in response to the “FY2025 Tokyo Metropolitan Citizens’ Project Proposal Initiative” introduced by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Bureau of Finance. Please note that the call for proposals has already closed.

The Citizens’ Project Proposal Initiative is a new form of civic participation by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, designed to reflect citizens’ voices directly in policymaking by allowing them to both propose and select projects. Aimed at solving Tokyo’s urgent policy issues through fresh perspectives and unconventional thinking, FY2025 proposals were received from April 4 to May 30, 2025. Proposals encompassed a wide range of policy areas including support for marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting, youth support, disaster preparedness and community safety, women’s empowerment, decarbonization, and digital transformation.

Under this initiative, individuals aged 15 or older who reside, work, or study in Tokyo, as well as organizations and groups based in Tokyo, are eligible to submit proposals. Projects are expected to fall within a budget cap of 200 million yen (in principle, for a single fiscal year). Submitted proposals will undergo review by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and will be subject to an online public vote scheduled for late July 2025. Based on the voting results, selected proposals may be incorporated into their FY2026 budget.

A Citizens-Driven Approach Harnessing Flexible Thinking to Address Tokyo’s Policy Challenges

In recent years, the environment surrounding the policy landscape in Tokyo has been changing at an unprecedented pace due to shifts in socio-economic circumstances, the worsening climate crisis, and rapid demographic aging. To address these evolving challenges, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government introduced this initiative to reflect citizens’ perspectives directly into policymaking and encourage flexible thinking that goes beyond existing policy frameworks. At HGPI, we advocate for stronger integration of environmental and health policies in Tokyo’s governance from the perspective of planetary health, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human health and climate change. Guided by this approach, we have submitted four project proposals under this initiative that focus on mitigating the health impacts of climate change and promoting sustainable health policy. The summaries of these proposals are as follows.

Project Proposals Submitted by HGPI Aspiring for a Sustainable and Healthy Tokyo

Theme 1: Addressing Health Risks from Tropical Nights among Older Senior Citizens
In response to the growing health risks posed by tropical nights exacerbated by climate change and urbanization, HGPI proposed a project to develop and promote a “Nighttime Heat Risk Map” (tentative title) to visualize areas vulnerable to nighttime heat in Tokyo. The project targets elderly individuals, especially those living alone or in poverty who are less likely to use air conditioning. By integrating regional statistics and climate data, the map will identify high-priority support areas. The initiative also includes training and guidebooks for local officials and caregivers, as well as public awareness campaigns to encourage the map’s use. These efforts aim to reduce heatstroke incidents, emergency transport needs, and enhance community resilience. In the future, the project will seek to leverage the Tokyo Zero Emission Points program to further support air conditioning installations and reduce health risks from nighttime heat.

Theme 2: Supporting Decarbonization in Medical Institutions
Recognizing the slow progress of energy-saving measures in small- and mid-sized medical institutions, this proposal outlines a support and certification program to reduce CO2 emissions in those institutions. The project offers diagnostic tools and expert consultations to identify and implement specific energy-saving and efficiency strategies tailored to each facility. It also promotes renewable energy use and equipment upgrades. A “Green Training” program will provide environmental education to healthcare professionals, and a new “Zero Carbon Health Center” certification system will offer incentives and awards based on progress. Together, these efforts aim to cut both CO2 emissions and energy costs, contributing to a sustainable healthcare delivery system across Tokyo.

Theme 3: Promoting a Circular Economy in Healthcare through Reprocessed Single-use Medical Devices (R-SUD) Adoption
In the clinical setting, the large volume of waste generated poses significant risks of infection and environmental burden. To tackle these challenges, this project aims to reduce medical waste and advance a circular society by promoting the adoption of Reprocessed Single-use Medical Devices (R-SUD). The initiative takes a comprehensive approach by integrating awareness-raising, implementation support, and regulatory development. Experts will assist interested hospitals in building collection systems and infection control protocols. Demonstration hospitals will showcase results, while remanufacturers will also receive support. Through these activities, the project seeks to reduce medical waste, cut CO2 emissions and procurement costs, and thus lead the transition toward circularity in the healthcare sector.

Theme 4: Establishing a Chief Heat Officer (CHO) to Strengthen Heatstroke Countermeasures in Tokyo
To comprehensively address the rising risk of heat-related illness due to intensifying heatwaves, HGPI proposed establishing a Chief Heat Officer (CHO) within the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The officer would oversee cross-sectoral heat risk management. The project includes identifying high-risk areas, developing cooling centers, conducting education and outreach, and strengthening monitoring and care systems for vulnerable populations such as senior citizens, children, and outdoor workers. By promoting adaptive behavior among citizens and municipalities and working in partnership with other global cities, the CHO initiative aims to build an advanced, urban climate adaptation model and accelerate integrated, government-wide heat risk management.

For more details regarding the initiative, please click here.