Majority of Japanese Support 25% Cut in GHG Emissions by 2020, Survey Shows

About 70 percent of Japanese people support the nation's target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020, according to a survey released on March 18, 2010, by the Japan Productivity Center. The survey, conducted between February 22 and 24, 2010, via the internet, asked people about their opinions the issue of global warming, targeting about 10,000 men and women aged between 15 and 69 (Response rate: 29.3 percent).

This questionnaire survey was designed to assess public support for the 25 percent reduction target set by the Hatoyama administration, and to explore people's opinions on specific issues such as their views on effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The survey showed that 70.3% of respondents were in favor of the target. The percentage of women supporting the target was 75.3%, which was more than 10 points higher than that of men (65.1%). As for people who opposed it, the most often cited reason was "there is no practical roadmap to achieve the goal (63.9%)."

In response to a question concerning measures that will be particularly important to combat global warming, the highest percentage (67.9%) of respondents chose "promotion of energy conservation in households and offices." Asked about effective measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from households and offices (multiple answers allowed), the majority said eco-friendly commuting (57.5%) and increased subsidies for the installation of solar power systems (57.3%).

When asked how much they would be willing to shoulder of the cost to combat global warming, 54.5% said "less than 1,000 yen (about US$11) a month per family," while 22.4% said they "don't want to bear any cost at all."

INAX to Display Annual CO2 Reduction from Household Equipment (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/028884.html
Survey of Internet Users Shows 70% Concerned with CO2 Reduction Efforts (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/028635.html

Japan Productivity Center
http://www.jpc-net.jp/eng/

Posted: 2010/06/25 06:00:15 AM