ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS OF STUDY The paper explores the potential for integrating rooftop photovoltaics (PVs) with electric vehicles (EVs) in Kyoto, Japan, to facilitate a carbonneutral transition. It synthesizes technical, economic, and qualitative analyses to assess the “SolarEV City Concept,” which aims to use EVs as batteries to enhance energy storage and support urban decarbonization. The study highlights the importance of stakeholder collaboration and governance in overcoming barriers to implementing this niche technology. It identifies challenges such as land constraints, population decline, and the need for supportive policy frameworks while emphasizing the role of local initiatives, like the Kyoto Miraimon Project, in driving these transitions. POLICY RECOMMENDATION To facilitate the “PV + EV” integration, policymakers should promote collaborative governance frameworks that engage multiple stakeholders, streamline regulatory processes, and incentivize investments in renewable energy technologies, ensuring equitable access and community involvement in the transition to carbon neutrality. FOCUS OF STUDY The paper examines the role of urban innovation in achieving global climate and sustainability goals. It highlights the need for cities to lead in innovation to address local challenges while contributing to broader sustainability objectives. The authors define urban innovation as a collaborative process involving diverse stakeholders in cities. They emphasize the importance of a systems approach to governance, scaling successful initiatives, and building capacity for innovation. The paper also addresses the disparities in urban innovation practices between the Global North and South, advocating for inclusive and equitable strategies that consider local contexts and knowledge systems. It outlines a research agenda focused on understanding urban innovation processes and their effectiveness in driving transformative change. POLICY RECOMMENDATION To enhance urban innovation, policies should promote inclusive governance, support scaling of successful initiatives, and foster capacity building through collaboration among stakeholders, ensuring that local needs and knowledge systems are prioritized. Kobashi, Takuro, Eric Zusman, Makoto Taniguchi, Masaru Yarime. “Facilitating a carbon neutral transition in Kyoto: Initiatives on rooftop photovoltaics integrated with electric vehicles.” Technology in Society 80 (2025): 102774. Evans, James P., Davide Cassanmagnago, Tathagata Chatterji, Andrew Irvin, Banjamin Jance IV, Cathy Oke, Massamba Thioye, Gregory Patrick Trencher, Elvira Uyarra, Masaru Yarime. “Grand challenges in sustainable cities: urban innovation for global climate and sustainability goals— from policy agenda to research needs.” Frontiers in Sustainable Cities 7 (2025): 1568701. 21 Scholarly Showcase
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