The government said July 22 it has selected Yokohama and five other municipalities as "environmentally friendly model cities" as part of Japan's efforts to lead the world in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

The other five municipalities are Minamata in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kitakyushu, Toyama, and two Hokkaido municipalities — Obihito and Shimokawa.

Those designated municipalities must draft five-year action plans by the end of the fiscal year through next March.

Measures envisaged in the action plans — all aimed at halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 ― will be eligible for government subsidies.