The 2020 survey of the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) focused on “Environment”, and as an ISSP member, the NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute conducted the survey in Japan. This paper reports on the Japanese attitudes and behavior towards environmental issues.
75% of the respondents think “a rise in the world’s temperature caused by climate change” is dangerous. Those who find “nuclear power station” dangerous have remarkably increased from the previous 2010 survey, from 36% to 59%.
In terms of attitudes towards government policies on environmental issues, those who feel Japan’s efforts to address climate change are “not advancing” account for 62%, much higher than 37% for “advancing.”
Those who receive plastic bags at retail stores have decreased after the introduction of a law to charge for them, from 94% to 50%. Those who think charging for plastic bags “will” contribute to reducing plastic waste account for 70%, largely exceeding those thinking it “will not” (28%).
Regarding approaches towards protecting the environment and willingness to bear a burden, nearly 60% think “there is no point in doing what I can for the environment unless others do the same.” Notably, the figures are around 70% among young generations in their 30s and under. This proportion (nearly 60%) is unchanged from the 2010 survey when Japan’s result was third highest among 36 countries/regions, which indicates the Japanese tendency to think “there are limitations in what individual efforts can do.” In addition, those who “are unwilling to accept cuts in the standard of living to protect the environment” account for 44%, higher than those “willing to” (32%). Those who “are unwilling to” make up the majority among younger generations in their 30s and under, the younger the higher.