Itabashi: Leader in Green Curtain Movement

Itabashi City (Tokyo, Japan), a Member of ICLEI, is setting up nets outside school buildings, public facilities and homes to grow plants. Birthplace of the Green Curtain Movement, Itabashi held the National Convention on the Green Curtain on 17 April 2009. The movement, which started in 2003, aims to solve the heat-island effect by blocking sunlight to keep rooms cool in the summer, therefore saving energy used by air conditioners.  With the help of city officials, schools, residents and volunteers, the movement has spread across half of Japan, and other countries struggling with hot weather are also interested in the movement.

The mayor of Itabashi City, Takeshi Sakamoto, encouraged participants to spread this movement, saying “The green curtain movement not only provides us the green in urban area and measures to prevent from global warming but also activate the community”.

The movement acts as an excellent model for other countries throughout the world, and will be presented by Itabashi City at the ICLEI World Congress 2009.

Further information:

ICLEI Japan Website (in Japanese)