■Kanagawa Decarbonization Award

 (1) Promotion and Dissemination Section
An individual or organization that has engaged in practical activities to spread and promote decarbonization, and whose achievements are outstanding and serve as a model for others. 

(2) Business Activities Global Warming Prevention Plan System Section
Businesses that fall under either A or B below and are subject to the Business Activities Global Warming Countermeasures Plan System, have outstanding achievements, and are exemplary. (Since the prefecture recommends businesses, there is no public recruitment.)

Kanagawa Prefecture Global Warming Countermeasures Promotion Ordinance No. 4 Article 2 Business operators that fall under the category of specified large-scale business operators as set forth in the paragraph
Kanagawa Prefecture Global Warming Countermeasures Promotion Ordinance No. 11 Article 4 Business operators that fall under the category of small and medium-sized businesses, etc., as set forth in the preceding paragraph 

(3) Building and Specific Development Project Global Warming Prevention Plan System Section
Kanagawa Prefecture Global Warming Prevention Measures Promotion Ordinance No. 19 The Building Global Warming Prevention Plan System stipulated in Article 13 of the same or Article 14 of the same ordinance 34 The award is for businesses that are subject to the Special Development Project Global Warming Countermeasures Plan System stipulated in Article 13 of the Revised Code, and that have outstanding achievements and are exemplary. (The award is recommended by the prefecture, so there is no public competition.) 

(4)Advanced Technology/Introduction Department
This award is given to individuals or organizations that have developed cutting-edge decarbonization technologies or introduced renewable energy sources, and whose achievements are outstanding and serve as a model for others. 

(5) Youth Future Category
The award will be given to individuals, schools, etc. under the age of 30 (as of October​ ​1st of the year in which the award is given) who have undertaken the initiatives in (1) or (4) above, or to organizations with a majority of their members under the age of 30 (as of October​ ​1st of the year in which the award is given), who have made notable achievements, and who are worthy of great promise for the future.

▲The award ceremony and venue. Just under 200 people attended.

At the beginning of the award ceremony, Governor Kuroiwa of Kanagawa Prefecture and Representative Director and President of Television Kanagawa Co., Ltd. Kumagai took to the stage to give "host's greetings." Below we summarize and excerpt some of their comments.

■ Mr. Kuroiwa

The business operators have made remarkable achievements in raising awareness of decarbonization, calling for the abolition of greenhouse gases through educational activities, constructing buildings with excellent environmental performance, and developing and providing cutting-edge products and services. We would like to express our sincere respect and gratitude for your daily efforts.

Before the award ceremony, we had been holding forums on decarbonization, and I believe that very multifaceted and in-depth discussions were held. It is important that we take this issue personally, match it well with the flow of the economy, and promote decarbonization in a natural way. Kanagawa Prefecture has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 % by 2030. This is a high goal, but considering the planet, we must work on it without delay.

I hope that by presenting the awards in this format, it will inspire others to think, "OK, so I can work hard like this," and the circle will continue to expand. This is the first time the awards have been given, so it is very meaningful, and I am very happy to be able to present the awards.

■ Mr. Kumagai

Congratulations to all of you on receiving the first Kanagawa Decarbonization Award. I hope that today's award will further accelerate your efforts.

This year's awards included a prize in the Youth Future category. This was the result of the hard work and hard work of nursery school children, elementary school students, various organizations, and parents, who worked together to study and work on the award. One nursery school and two schools, "Kojikai Social Welfare Corporation Ko-Naka Nursery School," "Yokohama Municipal Nishimae Elementary School," and "Yokohama Municipal Minatomirai Honcho Elementary School," won the prize.

I think this initiative, which has given the younger generation an opportunity to work towards realizing a carbon-free society, is truly wonderful. I hope that the efforts of the award recipients will continue to spread.

As the governor said, the most important thing is to make it your own. As a local broadcasting station, we will of course support your efforts, but we also want to continue to provide information that will serve as a catalyst for people in Kanagawa Prefecture.

■Award Ceremony

After the two speakers finished their speeches, the scene shifted to the award ceremony, where the winners were presented with both a certificate and a shield.

Macnica received this award in recognition of its track record in selling and installing the heat-shielding and insulating paint "Macnicut," an energy-saving solution that can achieve high energy-saving effects while keeping investment costs down (for more details, click here ).

This award ceremony was held as part of an event called the Kanagawa Decarbonization Action Forum, where workshops and exhibitions related to decarbonization were also being held next door.

▲There are also exhibits that appear to have been made by children.

This time, we have reported on the "1st Kanagawa Decarbonization Award Ceremony." The words "SDGs" and "decarbonization" are becoming more common in everyday life, but if you sometimes attend events like this, you may discover something you've never seen before.

Macnica will continue to contribute to the realization of a carbon-free society through various initiatives, including Macnicut, which led to this award.