Tokyo to waive basic water bills to combat extreme heat

Japan will waive basic water bills will for Tokyo residents this summer to combat the impact of extreme heat, the government said.

- 

Last summer was the joint hottest on record in Japan as extreme heatwaves fuelled by climate change engulfed many parts of the globe.

"The basic fee will be waived for four months," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters Tuesday, adding that households would save an average of 5,000 yen ($35).

The government aims to reduce the inflation burden on households, and encourage the use of air conditioning to prevent heatstroke.

"We hope to create an environment where Tokyo residents can live safely even in the expected heatwaves," Koike said.