Future of Circular Urban Planning: Protecting Shibuya from Extreme Heat through 'Greening Ownership' and Analysis of Cool Spot Installations

Future Design Shibuya (Executive Director: Hideki Koizumi) conducted two sessions on the theme of 'Environment' at 'SOCIAL INNOVATION WEEK 2025' (SIW), held in October 2025, as part of the 'SHIBUYA GREEN SHIFT PROJECT' launched with Daikin Industries, Ltd. and Osaka University. The SIW PAPER summarizing these sessions includes results from two years of activities since the project's launch, results of effectiveness testing on heat mitigation measures by Daikin Industries, insights gained about the 'current state and future of the environment' through discussions, and ideas and specific recommendations for making cities like Shibuya more resilient through collaboration between administration, corporations, and residents. These recommendations propose a new urban model that uses 'adaptation measures' such as outdoor air conditioning technology as an entry point to reduce environmental impact and connect to 'Greening Ownership,' where communities and children personally nurture the 'city's greenery.' [Download the White Paper here] URL: https://www.social-innovation-week-shibuya.jp/topics/1002/ Sessions at SIW2025: - The Frontline of Urban Heat Mitigation: A New Approach of 'Greening x Equipment' Advancing in Shibuya - Energy Saving Talk Session with the Community | Achieving Summer Energy Savings through Collaboration of Equipment, Companies, and Regions SOCIAL INNOVATION WEEK 2025: https://www.social-innovation-week-shibuya.jp/ SHIBUYA GREEN SHIFT PROJECT: https://fds.or.jp/cnud_pj/shibuya-green-shift-project/ ■ Background and Challenges In Japan, environmental issues have become major challenges, with an increase in emergency transports due to heatstroke and the loss of educational opportunities, such as the cancellation of school pool lessons. This paper proposes a new lifestyle and future coordination with the administration under the theme of 'how to adapt to extreme heat.' ■ Activities and Achievements In FY2025, experimental measures were implemented, including heat mitigation through cool spot installations, energy-saving building management, and the creation of heatstroke countermeasure maps. These efforts yielded results such as offsetting electricity consumption and promoting outdoor activities, which were discussed with experts at SIW for future development. ■ Future Outlook Through this initiative, we will foster participation and ownership (personalization) regarding the environment in collaboration with administrative facilities, expanded corporate co-creation spaces, and local communities, enabling circular urban development. We will further promote the implementation of an 'extreme heat adaptation' society through greening ownership and the promotion of lifestyle transitions. We aim for this vision starting from Shibuya to become a model for urban planning adapted to environmental measures in regions across the country. Under Shibuya City's vision of being 'the world's foremost experimental city,' Future Design Shibuya launched the 'SHIBUYA GREEN SHIFT PROJECT' in June 2024 together with Daikin Industries and Osaka University to co-create decarbonization actions and social experiments. As global warming progresses, the project aims to demonstrate and present ideas to make the city more comfortable and greener while progressing with decarbonization, implementing solutions that lead to the sustainable development of society as a whole, not just Shibuya. Partners Tokyu Corporation and Tokyu Land Corporation also participate, working on efficient air conditioning operations using data, installing cool spots in Shibuya, and accelerating biodiversity conservation such as rooftop greening. The knowledge gained from these past activities will be utilized in future urban planning. HP: https://fds.or.jp/cnud_pj/shibuya-green-shift-project/ Future Design Shibuya is a public-private-academic-citizen collaboration organization that designs solutions and possibilities for social issues through open innovation, collecting ideas and talents from the diverse people who live, work, study, and visit Shibuya, based on diversity and inclusion. By presenting new possibilities for urban life from Shibuya to the world, it serves not only Shibuya City but society as a whole.