20-‐12-‐2013
Tokyo: towards a Smart Energy City
Accelerating a transition by hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games at 2020.
Abel Hemmelder (10103295), Philip Kuipers (10189262), Viola Bennink (10251651)
Abstract
Cities have become more attractive, but also more pollutant due to unsustainable city development. In Tokyo, the earthquake and tsunami of March 2011 were incentives for the Japanese residents to become eager to transform Tokyo into a more sustainable city (Tanikawa, 2011). A major event, like hosting the Olympics, could form an accelerating force to make the transition towards an energy and resource efficient city, increasingly powered by renewable energy sources: a Smart Energy City (Transition, 2013). Common ground can be explored between the goals of transition and the opportunities and flaws of hosting Olympics. This research focuses on the main research question: How can hosting the Olympic games in 2020 contribute in the transition of Tokyo to become a Smart Energy City (SEC)? By means of a scenario method within a thematic framework, a comparison of the effects of the Olympic games in other cities and the conditions required for a transition towards a SEC leads to the conclusion that all fundamental conditions for this synergy are present. However, improvement of particularly the public support and the diversity of the residential population would be beneficial.
Table of content
Introduction (3)
Necessity to change (3)
Towards a Smart Energy City (3) Tokyo; an ideal scenario? (3) Research aim (3)
Scenario-‐based, thematic research approach (4) Chapter 1
Explaining the concept of a Smart Energy City (5) Biomimicry (5)
Circular economy (5) Social capital (5) Smart City (5)
Smart Energy City (5) Chapter 2
Introducing Tokyo: an overview of the current state (7) Japan’s unsustainable development (7)
Energy use (7)
Tokyo in tentative transition towards a SEC (8) Chapter 3
Thematic conditions required for shifting towards a Smart Energy City (10) Lifestyle and vision (10)
System resilience (11) Chapter 4
Impacts for a city hosting the Olympic game (14) Money & Investments
Infrastructure Governance
Ideology & Public awareness City Facilities
Education and Innovation Media attention
Chapter 5
Integrating impacts of the Olympics with condition required for a transition towards a Smart Energy City (16)
Chapter 6 Discussion (19) Chapter 7 Conclusion (19) References (20)
Introduction
Necessity to change
Cities have proven to be incubators of creativity, wealth creation and economic growth (Bettencourt & West, 2010) and are increasingly attractive for the world population to reside (DESAUNS, 2007, cited in Morvaj, 2011). However, due to unsustainable city development, the majority of all cities have become pollutant (Bettencourt & West, 2010). Despite the fact that cities occupy only 2% of the Earth's surface, all together they emit almost 80% of global carbon dioxide and significant amounts of other greenhouse gases (Watson, 1998). As a result of increasing welfare and rising prices of raw materials in the early ninety’s, it is agreed that cities should be converted into more sustainable cities to improve human and environmental conditions (Gordan, 1990). However, the theories to do so are diverse, because they are created from different perspectives at varying degrees of abstraction (Nielsen et al., 2010)
Campbell (1996) and Gordon (1990) were the first to come up with concrete drawings of what such a sustainable city should contain and what conditions are required to make the transition. Since then, new sustainable city-‐concepts continue to arise and develop rapidly.
Towards a Smart Energy City
A relatively new concept that encounters a modern sustainable city is a Smart Energy City (SEC). We will use the most recent definition of a SEC: ‘a liveable, resilient city, which is inclusive, climate friendly, data insight driven and fosters innovation and a sustainable economy’ (Transform, 2013). Chapter 1 provides more insight on the development of the SEC.
Since operating SECs are still rare, it is important to give attention to the conditions required to make a shift towards a SEC. For instance, insights of accurate knowledge concerning the flow of materials and nutrients should be present (McKinsey, 2012; MacDonough, 2010; Ayres,1996; Boulding, 1966). Also, there should be a high public awareness regarding the transition towards a greener city (Song, 2011) and preparedness from businesses to participate (McKinsy, 2013). Thereby, the physical city structure needs to be fictile in order to make adaptations to the system gradually. Chapter 3 will elaborate on the conditions required to make a transition towards a more sustainable city.
Tokyo; an ideal scenario?
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has written down an ambitious vision, in which Tokyo will be a SEC (BETMG, 2012). At the same time, Tokyo is the host city of the OPG (OPG) in 2020. The current state and goals of Tokyo will be discussed in chapter 2. Chapter 4 includes the impact of the Olympics on a host city. It might be wise to use the eight years preparation time provided by the International Olympic Committee in synergy with the transition towards becoming a SEC. In this way, the OPG might be an accelerating force for the SEC-‐transition.
Research aim
We set up a scenario study where common ground can be explored between the goals of transition towns and the opportunities of hosting the OPG. How can hosting the Olympic games in 2020 accelerate the transition of Tokyo in becoming a Smart Energy City? This question will be addressed in chapter 5.
Scenario-‐based, thematic research approach
With a scenario-‐based research approach, plausible as well as predictable outcomes are explored that can challenge conventional wisdom (Shell, 2013). A scenario can help decision makers to reconcile apparent contradictions or uncertainties. They also have the potential to improve awareness around issues that could become increasingly important to society (Shell, 2013), such as pollution and diseases due to unsustainable city development (Bettencourt & West, 2010). Figure 1 shows the four possible scenarios with the level of success in meeting goals as driving forces. Of course, hosting the OPG could also be a driving force of even more pollution for Tokyo. However, we will focus on the best possible scenario that a positive synergy will arise (top-‐right in fig. 1). Due to the complexity and the interconnectedness of the disciplines involved in a SEC, some argue that a sustainable city cannot be viewed as the sum of parts, but holistically as a network of interconnected infrastructures dependent on each other (Morvaj, 2011). Therefore, it is appropriate to conduct this scenario-‐based research from an interdisciplinary perspective; otherwise the research could be more sensitive to limitations within different disciplines. The interdisciplinarity will be expressed in a thematic approach that might provide the most holistic result as possible within our interdisciplinary project.
Figure 1 Possible scenarios with degree of succes in meeting goals of becoming a Smart Energy City and of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Tokyo as driving forces.
Chapter 1
Explaining the concept of a Smart Energy City
Biomimicry
Nature can be seen as a model, form of measurement and mentor: the biomimicry concept. This is the abstraction of good design from nature. O. Schmidt first mentioned this term in 1938 in his study on squid nerves (Schmidt, 1938). Since nature includes a lot of biological and inorganic cycles, this biomimicry concept inspired K.E. Boulding in the sixty’s to form a new theory that embraces the idea of a circular flow of material through a system. Contrary to the traditional linear ‘take, make, dispose’, mimicking nature means that all materials should stay in the system as long as possible.
Circular economy
In this circular economy, Boulding (1966) embraced four key principles. Firstly, waste does not exist. Products should be produced in a way that all the materials and nutrients can be reabsorbed into the material cycle (McKinsey, 2012). Secondly, diversity should be encouraged and embraced (Boulding, 1966). Due to the fast evolving and uncertain world modularity, versatility and adaptively are features that need to be prioritized (McKinsey, 2012). The third key principle is that renewable, clean energy should be axiomatic (Boulding, 1966). In the linear system, materials and energy form the two main bottlenecks for progress. Creating and maintaining a source a renewable energy (such as solar-‐ and wind energy), puts efficiency pressure on both (McKinsey, 2012). And latsly, thinking in systems. The ability to understand how parts influence one another within a whole, and the relationship of the whole to the parts, is crucial (McKinsey, 2012).
Social capital
Nowadays, sufficient economical capital is no longer the only thing that cities compete for. They depend increasingly on the availability and quality of human and social capital. Knowledge, communication and social infrastructure are important for urban competitiveness (Caragliu, 2009).
Smart City
Against this background, the concept of the Smart City has recently been introduced as a strategic device to encompass modern urban production factors in a common framework and, in particular, to highlight the importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to enhance the competitive profile of a city (Caragliu, 2009). A Smart City continually increases its performance in satisfying all needs of its citizens (Morvaj, 2011).
Smart Energy City
In interaction with economic and social capital, energy will still stay uttermost important in cities. Disruptions in the power system have severe economic and social consequences, even for short periods of time (Lugaric, 2010). Therefore, cities will benefit from an uninterrupted power supply, coupled to a smart control system that can improve conveniences, facilitate mobility, identify any problems in the operation of city systems and fix them quickly and recover rapidly from disasters (Kanter, 2009).
Usually, a SEC in transition requires a fundamental revision of its electric power policy. It is necessary not only to reform the power supply system but also to establish a system to promote energy saving and power demand reduction, for instance by decreasing the peak energy demand. In this way, comfortable office and living environments can be created (TMG, 2013).
So within the framework of this research, a Smart Energy City enhances low carbon capability, comfortable environments and disaster resistance at the same time (TMG, 2013) (see fig.
Figure 2 Smart Energy City Concept (BTMG 2012).
Chapter 2
Introducing Tokyo: an overview of the current state
Tokyo, with thirteen million residents on two thousand square kilometres, is the capital city of Japan (fig. 2). In this chapter, the current and desired situation of Japan and Tokyo in particular will be discussed briefly in order to address the feasibility of reaching the 2020-‐goals of the local authorities in general.
Figure 3 City profile Tokyo (BETMG, 2012).
Japan’s unsustainable development
Japan is the sixth on the list of the most carbon dioxide emitting countries in 2012, with 4% (1324 Mt) of the direct global carbon dioxide emission. In 2010, Japan’s first cap-‐ and-‐trade emissions trading program started off, with the aim to reduce total emissions among the capped sectors by 6% of the base-‐year emissions by 2014 (TMG, 2010). However, Japan’s emissions increased since 2009 to a five-‐year average of 2% above its base year level, so they do not meet their wishes up to now.
Energy use
The power generation sector is the largest and the fastest growing contributor to direct carbon dioxide emissions (see fig. 3).
Figure 4 Sector-‐by-‐sector trends in CO2 emissions (direct emissions) of Japan from 1990 to 2011. Prepared from GHG emissions inventory by Japan’s National Institute for Environmental Studies.
The reason for this long-‐term growth is the Japanese economy growth (World Bank, 2013), causing an increase in electricity consumption in the commercial and residential sectors, fuelled by coal-‐fired power plants (Kiko Network, 2008). A steep short-‐term increase of 6,2% in 2012 is the highest of the past twenty years and could be explained by the economic recovery since the recession, along with the closure of nuclear plants after the Fukushima accident in 2011 (Olivier et al., 2013). However, in the autumn and winter through the spring, power demand of households and offices in Tokyo stayed lower than the pre-earthquake level by around 4 GW. This could suggest that power demand has shifted downward as a structural trend (BETMG, 2012).
Besides energy savings, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) considers renewable energy as an alternative for the future, that could account for about one-‐fifth of Japan’s energy mix by the 2020s (TMG, 2010). Renewable energy in 2012 has been accounted for 10% of the energy supply, mostly from hydroelectric sources (Guardian, 2013).
Tokyo in tentative transition towards a SEC
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has set up an energy management plan (fig. 5), that consists of three steps. The most obvious step is saving energy and reducing power demand with use of technologies and knowhow. This way, the carbon dioxide emission will be reduced and the peak power demand could be reduced. Expanding use of low-‐ carbon, independent distributed energy systems is the second step. The popularization of renewable energy and diversification of energy utilization are important in this face. At last, the optimization of supply and demand via energy management will improve comfortable environments and intellectual productivity, as well as the enhancement of low carbon capability and disaster resistance (BETMG, 2012).
Figure 5 Energy management concept Tokyo (BETMG, 2012).
There are already initiatives of high-‐technology companies in Japan like Panasonic, Honda, Hitachi and Toshiba that are working, respectively, with municipal bodies in Fujisawa, Saitama, Yokohama and Kashiwa. These cities are all near Tokyo and will reduce carbon emissions through an intelligent network of electricity grids and new equipment (Tanikawa, 2011). A major task will be the harmonization of the multiple systems. Technology companies are using the smart-‐town projects to promote their energy systems and the standards that come with them, that can possibly result in incompatible systems (Enomoto, 2010). What should be taken into account, is that by 2020, probably one out of four citizens of Tokyo will be older than 65 years old, living alone (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, 2010). Especially this category is not suitable for coping with incompatible energy systems. Also, Japanese laws regulating generation and distribution of electricity forbid sales of electricity between homes, eliminating the potential for exchange among households to optimize energy use. Individual households may sell electricity only to power companies; so changing the regulation will be inevitable (Wolsink, 2007).
Tokyo vision 2020
Tokyo’s vision is ambitions and detailed (e.g. see website TMG). The eight main goals of the Tokyo Vision up to 2016 are stated in box 1. The success of achieving Tokyo’s goals can only be reached under certain conditions. The following chapter will explore the required conditions that need to be created.
Box 1: Tokyo’s Big Change: The 10-‐Year Plan (2007 – 2016) (Metro.tokyo.jp)
1. Restore Tokyo’s beauty as a city of water and greenery
2. Connect land, air, and sea to raise Tokyo’s international competitiveness 3. Have Tokyo become the city with the lowest environmental load in the world 4. Strengthen Tokyo’s disaster preparedness to enhance safety
5. Create a reassuring society for senior citizens and child-‐raising families 6. Raise Tokyo’s profile through culture and industry
7. Create a society where motivated individuals can pursue their ambitions 8. Promote sport to provide dreams to children
Chapter 3
Thematic conditions required for shifting towards a Smart Energy City
Shifting towards a smart energy city is a complex challenge for cities such as Tokyo. It depends on large numbers of stakeholders and participants with differing and conflicting interest (Nijkamp et al., 1998). Hence, a governments desire to make a transition towards a Smart Energy City alone is not enough to effectuate an actual shift. In order to make the transition, a number of conditions are requisite (Nijkamp et al., 1998; McKinsey, 2012). By probing underlying theories and concepts that are related to the concept of a Smart Energy City, a framework of overlapping aspects can be drawn (Nielsen et al., 2010).
Testing these factors against social-‐economic, urban development and transition studies provides evidence for the correctness of the conditions. Finally, the conditions are bound together in overlapping thematic conditions. This chapter will give an overview of these thematic conditions.
Lifestyle and vision
A widely supported condition that has been proven to be a crucial condition in order to make a transition is the presence of the correct vision and lifestyle. (Macionis, 2004; Zukin, 1998; Bennister, 2000). These terms cover the preparedness of the inhabitants of the city to participate as well as both the capability of the local government to lead and the willingness of the local businesses to contribute. Shifting towards another state requires multiple distinct incentives. Vision and Lifestyle contribute to this in multiple ways.
First of all, it determines the public support and acceptance for the transition (Jackson, 1991). The extent to which the city’s population supports the municipal policies influences the probability these policies to succeed. (Jackson, 1991). When, for example, a population perceives that its cultural and historical values are threatened by certain policies, it will develop recalcitrance against these policies (McLaren, 2002). Raiser (1999) emphasizes the importance of public support by demonstrating a correlation between confidences in governmental transition policies en the effectiveness of those policies in practice. He compares the success of multiple countries that made the transition from communism towards a capitalistic system. Trust in transformation policies proved to be of significant influence on their success (Raiser, 1999). Also with regards to a transition towards a SEC, a lack of social support could form a stumbling stone.
Secondly, a clear indicator of public support can be found in the mind-‐set of different stakeholders (Acha, 1999). In order to transfer from passive support to active participation a correct mind-‐set is crucial (Acha, 1999). In the economic sector, this mind-‐set could for instance lead to forms of Corporate Social Responsibility (Holme, 1999) and embracing the concept of Cradle2Cradle. Among the citizens, voluntary work is a great indicator of an active participating mind-‐set (Lowndes, 2001). An active mind-‐ set differs from social support, which has a more passive tone, and plays a crucial role brining ideas into practice (Tennenhouse et al., 2002). Broad (2002) separates the active mind-‐set and social support from each other based on the extend to with politicians strive to stimulate them. Although citizens’ participation (active mind-‐set) is more efficient in achieving political goals, it is feared among politicians due to the high volatility (Broad, 2002). In contrary to social support, which is more stable and
predictable, a strongly participating population oppose the local government in demonstrations and strikes when they feel dissatisfied. In the policy plans and the Olympic bid book, the local government emphasises on boosting both the social support and the citizen’s participations.
Finally, the involvement of local business is crucial. It sets an example for the community by demonstrating an alternative way of using products and materials (McKinsey, 2012). In Tokyo, large companies in multiple industries already make large steps in reducing emissions and increasing efficiency. A clear indicator of the involvement of local business can be found observing the Forbes sustainable companies top 100 2011 (Forbes, 2011). On this chart, nineteen Japanese companies, founded in Tokyo, are listed because of their steps towards more sustainable business practices. Results of this upcoming sustainable business vision are displayed in the circle diagram, presented below (BETMG, 2010). As illustrated in figure 6, the industry’s accountability for CO2 emission decreases over time, due to the steps of large companies towards more sustainable business practices (BETMG, 2010).
Driving forces behind these upcoming sustainable business practices are the policies of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG). In policy plans such as Tokyo 2020 (TMG, 2012) and policy advices such as OECD (Alter, 2013) local businesses are encouraged and enforced to participate in shifting towards greener alternative techniques and production methods. Not only business practices are subject to the guiding policies towards greener practices. Residents, public transport and commercial activities are also subjected to the ambitious plans laid out by TMG in Tokyo 2020 (TMG, 2010), Universities are encouraged to develop sustainable study programs while public transport companies are obligated to reduce emission by 3% every 3 years (BETMG, 2010). Central in TMG’s policies are both the long-‐term vision and the strong guiding influence.
System resilience
Due to the unpredictability of the gradient of a transition towards another system, a high level of diversity is important (McKinsey, 2012). Economic sectors and policies might not evolve as expected, positively or negatively. A solid starting position for the transition dams the effects of major or minor setbacks. Diversifying the systems strengthens the resilience of the system and decreases the vulnerability (Herriot et al, 1995; Baud, 2010).
Applying the theory of resilience on transition thinking and urban development planning has multiple advantages (Wilkinson et al., 2010). First of all, it creates insights in the nature of structural changes of complex systems. Secondly, it offers a new framework for the analysis of the dynamics in the social-‐economical urban systems and their complexity. Third, it explains the importance of adaptive governance in the transition process of urban planning. (Wilkinson et al, 2010). Embracing the theory of resilience in the urban policies and processes forms a crucial condition for a Figure 6 Changes in emissions by sector over time (BETMG, 2010).
Figure 7 Diversified industry. metropolitan to shift towards a Smart Energy City. It increases the flexibility and autonomy at a local level and creates a more adaptive governance model (Baud, 2010). A highly diversified group of inhabitants might not be a crucial condition to shift successfully, but they form an addition to the ease of the transition (Santos et al., 2008). Breaking with the apparent paradox of the evolutionary game theory, Santos et al. (2008) states that social diversity promotes the emergence of cooperation for the public good. Encouraging the development of social diversity enlarges the social and creative capital of a city (Thomas et al., 2006). These forms of capital play an important role in the future competitive position of the city. Therefore, having and promoting social diversity forms a vital aspect in the transition towards a Smart Energy City
In the highly competitive environment of today’s global economy, having diverse industries increases the vitality and resilience of the city (Gibson-‐Graham, 2007). It secures a permanent flow of capital and investors (Smith, 2007). Although a city’s economy will always be vulnerable to a certain level of fluctuations by the world market, a significant part can be neutralized by diversification (Brealey et al., 2006). A city‘s industry can diversify by focussing of different markets or market segments and different sectors (Freeman, 2010). Observing the pie chart in figure 7, one can state that Tokyo’s industry is highly diversified. With seven sectors each covering more than five per cent of the city’s industry, the industry is highly resilient. Disappointing result in sectors (finance or household for example) can be absorb by better preforming sectors.
In conclusion, six thematic conditions required for transition towards a Smart Energy City can be isolated. Namely: public support, active mind-‐set, diverse population, diverse industry, involvement of local business and directing policy. Now these conditions are isolated, the impacts of hosting Olympics can be researched. These findings can then be projected on the conditions, based on field of impact.
Figure 9 Schematic overview of the interconnectedness of the conditions required for a shift towards a SEC.
Chapter 4
Impacts for a city hosting the Olympic game
Now the definition of a SEC is known and the conditions for the transition towards a SEC, it is time to research the impacts of hosting the Olympics games. We did this through a literature review. In the literature we found theories that combine multiple disciplines. Because of the combination of disciplines in the theories, we choose to divide the theories in themes. This makes it possible to provide an interdisciplinary view of the complex problem. The 7 themes that emerged are: Money & Investments, infrastructure, governance, ideology & public awareness, city facilities, education & innovation and media attention. Each theme conducts several impacts of hosting the Olympic games.
Money & Investments
One of the most widely published benefits of hosting the Olympics is the large amount of money that gets available for the host city. Firstly, there is the financial support of the International Olympic Committee (IOS). According to Furrer (2002) the operating budget has reached more than €1.5 billion for summer games. In addition to the contribution of the IOS, the host city also invests large amount of money in organizing the Olympics. For example: according to former Sport Minister Hugh Robertson the final cost of the London Olympic games in 2012 are €10.6 billion euro (Gibson, 2012).
From a macroeconomic perspective hosting the Olympics creates an opportunity for new trade relationships and attracts foreign investments. Other directly affected macroeconomic factors are employment and tourism. Needless to say, the magnitude of the effect depends, among other things, on the current state of the host city (Metropolis, 2002).
Infrastructure
Effects on the infrastructure are the most significant long-‐term changes on the host city (Furrer, 2002). According to Chalkley & Essex (1998) the Olympics act as a stimulus for major developments in infrastructure. Key infrastructure components that are adjusted during the hosting the Olympics are the host city transport system, tourism facilities, air terminals, parks and city’s environment and sport facilities (Metropolis, 2002)(Chalkley & Essex, 2003). According to Chalkley & Essex (2003) city planners see the Olympics as opportunity to fund and bring forward long-‐term plans. The overall impact of hosting the Olympics on the infrastructure is that that Olympics serve as an accelerated force in the development of infrastructure.
Governance
The Olympics influence the way of policy-‐making on issues of hosting the Olympics. According to Chalkley & Essex (2003) the organization around the Olympics shifted the last 3 decades from ‘government’ to ‘governance’, caused by the emergence of the private sector model of the Olympic organization and the many stakeholders. This shift to ‘governance’ is characterized by speed, flexibility, initiative, networking and a willingness to work with a range of other public and private-‐sector bodies (Chalkley & Essex, 1999). A continuation of governance is that new forms of public-‐private partnerships in leading major projects arise, which an acceleration of public investment decisions causes (Furrer. 2002)
Ideology & Public awareness
Hosting the Olympics games has several impacts on the society of the host city. According to Waitt and Furrer (1999) the Olympics can create a sense of enthusiasm and pride and give a sense of community and unity, which can even, transcend social and ideological divisions. Additionally, the Olympics represent a set of values that they try to spread throughout the entire society. Values such as respect, tolerance, fair-‐play, the balance between a strong body and mind, pursuit of excellence and others do contribute to building a better and more peaceful world (Furrer, 2002; International Olympic Committee, 2013).
City Facilities
Hosting of the Olympics has the consequence that several city facilities are taxed heavily. The many people that come to visit the host city need shelter, water, food, energy and transportation. Often sees the host city the Olympics as an excellent opportunity to improve these city facilities (Metropolis, 2002). City facilities that are frequently improved are: transportation system, water system, waste system, sewage system, energy distribution, food security, sleeping facilities, sport facilities and tourism attractions (Furrer, 2002; Metropolis, 2002). A great example is the renovation of the seafront area in Barcelona for the 1992 Olympics, which is after 20 years still an attractive leisure for locals and tourists.
Education and Innovation
Education is a main pillar in the policy of the IOC. Being the centre of the world’s attention during the Olympics makes it a perfect opportunity to show the world the importance of education. Successfully hosting the Olympics may function as a showcase of creativity, talent and innovation (Furrer, 2002). Improvement of the city facilities requires new knowledge and innovative solutions. Sustainability is a pillar of the philosophy of the IOC; this in combination with the media attention causes a platform for innovation in the sustainability sector. New innovation in environmentally friendly technologies, renewable energy sources, new standards for buildings, upgrading of water, waste and sewage systems and environmental education programmes are all examples of themes where the host city and the IOC pay attention to (Furrer, 2002).
Media attention
The role of the media is essential in all the impacts of the Olympics on the host city (Metropolis, 2002). The host city is the centre of the world during the Olympics. It gives an excellent opportunity to show itself of his best side. The attention can give a boost to tourism and investors and makes an image of the city (Metropolis, 2002). The media can also be seen as a watchdog, where something is not right the media will notify.
Chapter 5
Integrating impacts of the Olympics with condition required for a transition towards a Smart Energy City
Now the conditions to make a shift towards a SEC are isolated and the impact of the Olympics on the host city have been researched, a statement can be draw on the potential synergy. To do this, we observe the effect that the Olympics have on the transitional conditions. In chapter 3 we isolated six pillars on which the process of shifting towards a SEC can be build. Those six pillars are: Public support, active mind-‐ set, involvement of local business, directing policies, diverse industry and a diverse population. These pillars form the basic conditions required to make the transition towards a SEC. Hosting a major event like the Olympic games can have an effect on those pillars. This chapter will connect those effects on the pillars for the city of Tokyo. This will results in an integrated overview on how the Olympics can affect a transition towards a SEC. As can be viewed at figure 8, specific aspects of the impact of hosting the Olympics affect each pillar.
Figure 10 Integration transition conditions (pillars) and impact Olympics (arrows).
Observing the outer left side of the image, one can state that the degree of public support in a city is affected by both media attention and ideology. Media attention forms a crucial role in the public support for a transition. Giving opponents and proponents of the transition plans the stage to express their views can either affect the public support positively or negatively. Either way, the media plays an important role through their role as a watchdog on the overall process and promises made. In the case of Tokyo, the media attention can play a positive role on influencing the public support by reporting on the
ambitions of the city as a whole. People will tend to live up to the worlds image of the city shaped by the media (Metropolis, 2002). Leading up to the Olympics, media attention about the Olympics can serve as a discussion board for the local community, emphasizing on the area development. This way they function as an informative actor in the process.
Due to the size of the metropolis of Tokyo, housing more than thirteen million people, it is difficult to create a high level of public support. Reaching and motivating all those people to participate in the development of their own neighbourhood is challenging. The Olympic games can cause a sense of community, pride and solidarity. The ideology of the Olympics can play as an emulsifier, which can transcend social and ideological division. Due to the feeling of solidarity and national pride, the public support is fanned.
Both media attention and the ideology of the Olympics influence not only the public support, but also the pillar of an active mind-‐set. As mentioned in chapter 2, an active mind-‐set covers both the incentives from local businesses, the government and the public. The media attention also plays a controlling and informative actor for this pillar. Due to this role, businesses and the government are obligated to live up to their promises. On the one hand, it might scare of companies to be the first to make steps towards more sustainable ways of doing business, on the other hand, they are viewed by the entire world, which is good for the company’s image. For Tokyo desire to shift towards a SEC, an active mind-‐set is crucial. In order to achieve a successful transition, it is important than the different actors and stakeholders actively participate in the process.
In order to achieve a resilient and stable state, a diverse population is important. It stimulates creativity and enhances the social capital of the city. Tokyo knows a highly mono-‐racial population, with over 98 per cent (TMG, 2006) of the inhabitants being from Japanese origin. Preparing for the Olympics, foreign investors and companies will be drawn towards the city, bringing their employees and families. This way, they diversify the population of the city, bringing their own standards and values, culture and traditions.
Part of the social diversity can also be found in the educational system. Japan is extremely well educated with 80 per cent of the population carrying a university degree (Tse, 1998). Organizing the Olympic requires a diverse pallet of knowledge and organizing skills, Project-‐based education does not forms a major part of the current education system, which mainly focusses on individual achievements (Brown, 2005). During the Olympics, there are up to 53 organizational bodies and commissions that will be active at the same time (TMG, 2012), this requires communicational, planning and management skills within and among these bodies. During the ten year process of organizing the games, it is important to involve and educate the local youth, an approach that is emphatically stimulated by the IOC (TMG,2012). The Olympics is a showcase of creativity, talent and innovation. The organization will attempt to transfer this ideology onto every person involved in the process. Due to the many different aspects, this will result in a diversification of the population.
A diverse industry increases the resilience and competitiveness of a city. Currently, the industry of Tokyo is highly diversified (Fout! Verwijzingsbron niet gevonden.). Hosting the Olympics will stimulate this diversification even more, although there is a risk that companies will focus too much on the Olympics, instead of the long-‐term goal of shifting towards a SEC. City planner can use the Olympics as a tool to achieve infrastructural improvements due to the increased liquidity of capital. New projects are issued, requiring highly educated engineers, construction workers and innovative
building techniques. This forms a demand for different segments of the industry such as the construction-‐, transport-‐, finance and energy-‐sector. The risk lies in the temporary nature of the effects, after the Olympics are over, the demand and liquidity will decrease. What remains are the knowledge and social capital in the different sectors.
Local businesses already demonstrate a high level of involvement in Tokyo’s desire of becoming a greener, sustainable city. Observing Forbes’ (2010) chart of the most sustainable companies in the world; Tokyo leads with nineteen companies in the top 100. This indicates that these companies already embrace the philosophy of sustainable development. This is important because local businesses are connected with the local communities and form a role model. Their participation has a strong effect on the mind-‐ set and support of the community. The improvements on city facilities, such as sport complexes, will be depended on the involvement of the local community and businesses. Therefore, the IOC involves local businesses and communities in the creation of policies about the improvements and exploitation of the city facilities, This is because after the Olympics, sport centres, for example, will be exploited by local businesses. As a result, hosting the Olympics therefore will increase the involvement of the local community during and after the event.
Directing policies are an important pillar in the transition towards a SEC. In order to make the transition successful, the government has to take the lead and set an example for the rest of the city. This can be done by rewarding good behaviour, punishing bad behaviour or through direct involvement in the local communities and businesses. Tokyo demonstrates a high level of involvement of the government in the business operations of local companies, setting targets and goals. This might also be an explanation for the high level of involvement of the local businesses. The governance around the Olympics is characterized by speed, flexibility and a willingness to work with a range of other public and private sector bodies. A high liquidity of capital makes it easier to achieve the goals set and to stimulate desirable behaviour.
In summary, the conditions to shift towards a SEC are affected by the impact of hosting the Olympics. In the case of Tokyo, we predict an overall positive affect, which will cause an accelerating force on the transition. Important is to note that the influence of the Games cannot be seen as a sum of parts, but has to be treated as an complex and integrated force. Due to the interconnectedness of the every effect, it is crucial to think in systems rather than disciplines or separate parts. Defining the impact is not a collection of puzzle pieces, but an interwoven chain of factors.
In order to give a general indication of possible liming factors, we traced, direct and indirect, back the shortcoming in the conditions required for the transition of Tokyo towards a SEC. By mapping the interconnectedness, we identified two core pillars that explained most of these shortcomings, namely: Public support and Diverse population. Observing the conditions required for the desired shift, the pillars of public support and diverse population form the hardest conditions to satisfy for Tokyo Especially for these conditions, hosting the Olympics can play an important role. Education and innovation forms a strong incentive for the development of a more diverse population. Public awareness and the ideology of the Olympics form a major contribution for the public support in the city
Figure 9 Thematic scheme of integration of SEC-‐conditions and impact Olympics.
Chapter 6
DiscussionBecause of the broad interdisciplinary approach, a number of aspects are not taken into account. First of all, and most importantly, the magnitude of the impact has not been assessed. With the limited timeframe and lack of quantitative data, it was not realistic in this research to take the magnitude of every impact into account. This means that every impact was considered to have a comparable impact on the selected pillars. In reality, this would not be the case. Secondly, since this is the first time that Tokyo hosts the Olympics, we had to rely on experience of other city’s than Tokyo, for the impact assessment of the Olympic games. It is assumed that the impacts found elsewhere, will be the similar for Tokyo. However, due to the complexity and uniqueness of every city, the impact on Tokyo may differ from the impact on other host cities. A third difficulty is the definition used for the concept of a Smart Energy City. Since there is no general consensus of one definition, other definitions might focus on other aspects, changing the conditions required to make a transition towards it.
The broad approach in this research was ideal to give an overview of the complexity. It provides insight in the many actors involved in to process and the unpredictability of the outcome. However, more research has to be conducted, specifying more on the individual components of the transition.
Chapter 7
ConclusionThis research is conducted to describe a possible scenario of the synergy between hosting the Olympic games and the transition of Tokyo towards a Smart Energy City. The main research question of this research was: ‘Can hosting the Olympic games in 2020 contribute in the transition of Tokyo to become a Smart Energy City?’
This research shows the full-‐scale complexity of problem. Many disciplines are involved and intertwined with each other, so we chose a thematic approach to research the problem. By the integration of impacts of the Olympics and the condition for a transition towards a SEC, similarities, contradictions, direct and indirect effects where found.
The impact of the Olympics has several benefits for the conditions of the transitions. For Tokyo the benefits for the conditions ‘Public support’ and ‘Diverse population’ are in need for special attention, because these two conditions are presently weakly accomplished. However, the Olympics could become an accelerating force in the development of the conditions ‘Public support’ and ‘Diverse population’.
Hosting the Olympics must be seen as a tool to accomplish the conditions for a SEC. The impacts of the Olympics will not be decisive for the transition, but it can give strong incentives on the development of the conditions.
