C) Eco Matsue

No My-Car Days
One of the ways Matsue goes green is to host a “No My-Car Week,” during which time people are encouraged to use public transportation to cut down on Co2 emissions.

Community bus
There is community bus service in order to provide a means of transportation for the elderly and handicapped, increase activity in the city center, and decrease the burden on the environment. It is provided at a minimal charge, and serves as one means of welfare service.

Green Curtains
A Green Curtain is a curtain on the wall of a building made of plants. In summer they cut down on heat from the rays of the sun to make it easier to avoid using air conditioning. The City of Matsue also uses Green Curtains to cut down on Co2 in summer.

Ramsar Convention
Lake Shinji, located around central Matsue, is abundant with nature. The fish and other creatures that live in it help sustain the people, and it is a crucial part of the local ecosystem. In 2005 Lake Shinji was registered as a Ramsar Site, in order to have the cooperation of the world in order to prevent its degradation and preserve it as a home to migratory birds and other species that depend on it. The list is formally called the List of Wetlands of International Importance.