An Estimated 6.64 Million People Join 'Lights Down' Event 2005 to Fight Global Warming

The Japanese Ministry of the Environment conducted what it calls its "Light Down" and CO2 reduction campaign on July 18, 19 and 21, 2005. In the campaign, the ministry encouraged people to turn off the lights at major landmark facilities and in their homes, in an effort to promote efforts to prevent global warming. The ministry later conducted a random sampling survey of 2,000 people aged 20 to 59 from June 22 to 24, the result of which was announced on July 11.

In the survey, 41.5 percent of the respondents replied that they were aware of the campaign, and 5.2 percent said that they had actually participated by either turning off their lights at the designated time or by participating in related events. Assuming that these ratios hold for the country's entire population, an estimated 6.64 million people participated this year, representing an increase from last year's 6.4 million. If we count those who did not turn off the lights but still took some action to save energy, 16.9 percent of respondents participated in the campaign. Asked if they would join such a campaign in the future, 79.7 percent of all respondents replied positively.

The campaign included what was nicknamed "Black Illumination 2005" on the night of June 19, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., when illumination lights were turned off simultaneously at major landmarks such as the Tokyo Tower, and commercial facilities shut off their neon signs, etc. The number of participating facilities was 22,716, which surpassed by far last year's 6,088. The reduction in electrical consumption during these hours amounted to 602,805 kWh, according to reports from the participating facilities.

http://www.env.go.jp/en/

Posted: 2005/12/02 03:49:40 PM
Japanese version