2025 EACNCA | Tokyo: Advancing VOCs reduction through a “best mix” approach, balancing direct regulation, voluntary efforts, and public participation
ICLEI East Asia launched the East Asia Carbon Neutral Cities Accelerator (EACNCA) project in 2024 and has implemented it annually to highlight decarbonization efforts of local governments across the region. The project systematically documents innovative practices and governance experiences of cities on their path towards carbon neutrality, aiming to serve as references for policymaking and knowledge exchange, and inspire global cities to scale up climate action and replicate successful models. The 2025 EACNCA focuses on the governance of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), key precursors to PM₂.₅ and ozone, in three East Asian capital cities: Seoul, Beijing, and Tokyo.
This Tokyo Case showcases Tokyo’s “best mix” approach, balancing direct regulation and voluntary efforts, as well as its sectoral approaches to advancing VOCs reduction from industrial, transportation, and domestic VOCs sources, including technical and financial support for SMEs, enforced seasonal management through regional cooperation, mitigating vapor loss at gas stations, diesel vehicle regulations, and promoting low-VOCs products for everyday use. It further highlights the “Clear Sky Project”, which combines regulation, voluntary action, and public participation. Through sustained efforts, Tokyo reduced VOCs emissions by 63% between 2000 and 2020, while engaging over 300 organizations as Clear Sky Supporters by 2025. The city continues to address remaining challenges such as photochemical oxidants by expanding collaboration with citizen and business engagement.