On September 23, 2026, the Chief Representative of the Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the Americas spoke at “Asia’s Built Environment: The Climate Opportunity We Can’t Afford to Miss”, an event held in New York City in conjunction with Climate Week NYC 2026, and presented Yokohama’s initiatives to advance decarbonization in the urban and building sectors.

The event was hosted at the Empire State Building by Assemble, a philanthropic alliance working to accelerate the transition toward a decarbonized built environment. Foundations, funders, and other stakeholders working in the climate field gathered to discuss how the decarbonization of Asia’s built environment can be implemented and scaled.

The organizers highlighted Asia, where rapid urbanization and continued demand for construction are shaping the future of the built environment, as an important region for advancing global decarbonization. The discussion examined approaches in Japan and other Asian countries from the perspectives of policy and regulation, social demand, markets, and finance, as well as the role that capital can play in accelerating the transition.

The Chief Representative of the Yokohama Office explained that, in a mature major city such as Yokohama, decarbonization requires not only improving the performance of new buildings but also addressing the energy efficiency and decarbonization of existing homes and buildings.

Advancing decarbonization in cities and buildings requires not only policy and technology, but also mechanisms to translate them into concrete projects and mobilize the investment needed for implementation. Sharing Yokohama’s initiatives and challenges with international funders and built-environment stakeholders provided an opportunity to connect Yokohama’s practical experience with global knowledge and networks.

The Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the Americas will continue to expand its network with overseas organizations working in the climate field, communicate Yokohama’s initiatives internationally, and help connect global knowledge and partnerships with ongoing efforts in Yokohama.