In January 2021, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Oxford published the results of Peoples’ Climate Vote, the largest survey of public opinion on climate change, conducted in 50 countries and covering more than half of the world's population. 

The survey showed that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, 64% of people perceive climate change as an emergency facing the world. In high-income countries, the highest proportion of people recognizing the urgency of climate change was led by the co-host of the upcoming United Nations Climate Conference (COP26),United Kingdom and Italy (both 81%), followed by Japan (79%). The high-income countries with the lowest numbers of people recognizing the climate emergency were the United States (65%) and Chile (66%), but it was still recognized by the majority of the population. The higher the education level, the higher the awareness of the urgency of climate change, exceeding 80% in Bhutan, Democratic Republic of Congo, France and Japan. 

Overall, the most popular climate change countermeasures include forest and land conservation (54%), solar, wind and renewable energy (53%), climate-friendly farming techniques (52%), more investments in green business and jobs (50%). Other notable results are as follows:
 

• Calls for renewable were highest among countries with high greenhouse gas emissions including the United States (65%), the biggest emitter surveyed, Australia (76%), Canada (73%), Germany (71%), South Africa (69%), Japan (68%), Poland (57%) and Russia (51%).
• Calls for more investment in green businesses and jobs were supported in nearly all G20 countries including the UK (73%), Germany, Australia and Canada (all 68%), South Africa (65%), Italy (64%), Japan (59%), United States (57%), France (56%), Argentina, Brazil and Indonesia (all 51%).
• Popular policies in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan were forest and land conservation (48%), followed by solar, wind and renewable energy, investment in green business and employment, climate-friendly agricultural technology and farming methods (all 47%).

In October 2020, Prime Minister Suga declared that Japan would aim to realize a carbon-neutral and decarbonized society by 2050. In response to this, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) formulated the "Green Growth Strategy Towards 2050 Carbon Neutrality" in collaboration with related ministries and agencies.

The project on the “Development of biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) enhanced varieties to reduce GHGs and water pollutants”, which JIRCAS is leading as an international joint research, is listed as one of the promising innovations among the action plan in the 9th sector on “Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries” that embodies the global warming countermeasures. JIRCAS will continue to provide information on international trends surrounding climate change, and will also introduce the content of BNI technology development that allows Japan to take leadership in the field of international agriculture, forestry and fisheries. 
 

Reference

UNDP. World’s largest survey of public opinion on climate change: a majority of people call for wide-ranging action January 27, 2021 https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/news-centre/news/2021/Worlds_…

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki (Research Strategy Office)