3M Japan K.K. announced the results of a survey on Japanese attitudes toward climate change.

There is a growing sense of urgency about environmental issues, with particular concern about extreme weather events brought about by climate change. There is also concern about temperature changes due to climate change and the risk of being forced to leave their homes due to earthquakes in Japan.

In addition to the government’s leadership in addressing climate change, there are high expectations for companies to take the lead in creating a sustainable future. For governments, there is a strong need for financial subsidies for renewable energy, while for companies, there are high expectations in terms of the development and adoption of sustainable innovations, including technologies related to air pollution and waste reduction.

1. The top three environmental issues that Japanese are more concerned about than they were a year ago are “intensification of natural disasters,” “extreme temperatures,” and “climate change.

Among the environmental problems, “intensification of natural disasters (83%),” “extreme temperatures (heat waves, cold fronts, etc.) (81%),” and “climate change (80%)” are the top environmental problems that Japanese respondents feel more threatened by than they did one year ago, all higher than the global average. On the other hand, the percentage of respondents who answered “clean water supply (58%)” was lower than the global average (66%).

2. “Extreme weather” is the most feared impact of climate change

People around the world are concerned about the serious effects of climate change, with 94% of people in Japan (global average 93%) saying they are concerned. Among the various impacts of climate change, “extreme weather events (severe hurricanes, fires, floods, etc.)” was cited most frequently by both the Japanese and global averages, with 74% in Japan (compared to 56% globally), by far the highest percentage among the countries surveyed. The runner-up is “long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns (39%)” in Japan, while the global average is “lack of clean water (41%).

3. About 80% of Japanese are concerned about being displaced from their homes due to changes in temperature, with “earthquakes” as the top impact.

In Japan, 83% (global average 82%) of respondents agreed with the statement “I am concerned that people will be forced to leave their homes due to changes in temperature over time. Among the impacts related to climate change, respondents believe that they are most likely to be forced to relocate due to earthquakes (94%), fires (86%), floods (86%), tsunamis (83%), and sea level rise (81%), in that order, indicating a strong concern about earthquakes, especially in Japan, given the country’s experience with natural disasters. On the other hand, the global respondents as a whole were concerned about “drought (86%),” “fire (86%),” “flood (85%),” and “heat wave (84%).

3. About 80% of Japanese are concerned about being forced to leave their homes due to changes in temperature, with the impact of “earthquakes” topping the list.

In Japan, 83% (global average 82%) of respondents agreed with the statement “I am concerned that people will be forced to leave their homes due to changes in temperature over time. Among the impacts related to climate change, respondents believe that they are most likely to be forced to relocate due to earthquakes (94%), fires (86%), floods (86%), tsunamis (83%), and sea level rise (81%), in that order, indicating a strong concern about earthquakes, especially in Japan, given the country’s experience with natural disasters. On the other hand, the overall global results were “drought (86%),” “fire (86%),” “flood (85%),” and “heat wave (84%).

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)