Yet despite growing awareness, support for bold policies and personal action remains limited, leaving Japan at a crossroads between rising anxiety and slow momentum. Only 4 in 10 Japanese people feel a personal duty to act on climate change.

New polling reveals a sharp rise in climate concern across Japan, fueled by another record-breaking summer that underscores the nation’s vulnerability to extreme weather. Yet despite growing awareness, support for bold policies and personal action remains limited, leaving Japan at a crossroads between rising anxiety and slow momentum. Compared to other major economies, Japan’s climate leadership remains subdued, as indicated in the Ipsos “People and Climate Change 2025” report. The data paints a picture of a country that is deeply concerned but hesitant to act decisively.

Climate Change: Widespread Concern, Modest Engagement

Collectively, recent surveys indicate that more than 85% of Japanese people acknowledge the negative impact of climate change on their daily lives, with 72% reporting an increase in severe effects, such as heatwaves, crop failures, and rising living costs, over the past several years. National concern is on the rise, with 81% expressing apprehension about climate impacts, up 12% since 2022. Nearly nine out of ten people recognize global warming as anthropogenically induced, mirroring global consensus.

Yet, beneath this concern lies limited engagement. According to the Ipsos “People and Climate Change 2025” survey, only 40% feel an urgent personal responsibility to address climate change, ranking Japan last among 32 surveyed nations. It means that only 4 in 10 Japanese feel a personal duty to act on climate change. The report shows a 19-point drop in Japan’s agreement with the statement “If individuals like me do not act now …” from 2021 to 2025. This reticence extends to expectations for government and corporate action: just 42% see climate policy as a top government duty, and only 36% expect businesses to take the lead. However, to understand Japan’s climate engagement in a global context, the Ipsos survey offers revealing contrasts. It is compared with the outcomes of other surveys from the Japan Climate Institute and the Renewable Energy Institute.

Survey results on climate change attitudes and support in Japan (2025) from multiple sources

International Comparison for Context

Japan’s climate engagement stands out globally, not for its intensity, but for its restraint. In the Ipsos “People and Climate Change 2025” survey, Japan ranked last among 32 countries in terms of personal urgency to act on climate change. In contrast, countries such as Brazil (78%), India (74%), and the UK (62%) reported significantly higher levels of personal responsibility. Even among G7 peers, Japan lags: Canada (58%) and Germany (55%) demonstrate a more substantial public commitment to climate action. This international gap suggests that Japan’s climate challenge is not just technical or economic; it is cultural and psychological, requiring more profound shifts in public engagement and trust in policy efficacy.

Comparative Climate Engagement by Country
Country	% Feeling Personal Responsibility	Rank (out of 32)
Brazil	78%	1
India	74%	2
UK	62%	10
Canada	58%	13
Germany	55%	15
Japan	40%	32

Source: Ipsos “People and Climate Change 2025”

Support for Renewable Energy Is Strong but Action Lags

Business leaders are outpacing the broader public in their climate ambitions. In a 2025 poll, 96% of Japanese executives advocated for a rapid shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, with nearly two-thirds supporting a complete transition by 2035 and 65% urging a phase-out of coal. Most cite the economic and competitive advantages of clean energy and want clear government commitments to back this shift. General public support for expanding renewables sits at 65%, but a sense of urgency is missing among many voters and consumers.

Who Supports Climate Policy and Who Resists?

The landscape of climate support divides sharply along generational, geographical, and political lines as seen in the pie chart below.

• Youth and Urban Residents: Younger Japanese and city dwellers express the most significant concern and willingness to take climate action. About one-third of voters identify as ‘climate voters,’ with youth disproportionately represented.
• Older/Rural Citizens: Older adults and rural residents, while deeply affected by climate-related impacts, tend to resist policy upheavals that could disrupt traditional industries or lifestyles.
• Political Divides: The left-leaning parties rally more strongly in support of climate action, but pragmatic calls for energy reform are gaining traction among conservatives.

With these divides, it is essential to understand the acceptable and adoptable policies for the Japanese.

Demographic and political distribution of climate change policy support in Japan (2025)

What Policies Do People Want?

Surveys suggest that most Japanese favor policies that promote renewable energy, ensure affordable and secure power, and safeguard food supply chains. They also want more transparent pledges for coal phase-out and a clear role for renewables in national strategies. However, there is skepticism about whether new policies will deliver visible change, and a worry that energy costs will rise.

Utility and Limitations of Climate Polling in Japan

Climate polling in Japan plays a vital role in tracking public concern, behavioral trends, and policy relevance. Large-scale surveys, such as Ipsos’s global polling (with over 23,000 participants, including hundreds in Japan) and the Japan Climate Initiative’s focused national studies, offer detailed demographic and attitudinal insights. These data help shape government and corporate strategies, highlight urgent social and economic needs (like food and electricity prices), and underscore the political salience of climate issues.

However, current polling has notable limitations. Many surveys lack depth in explaining why specific demographic groups support or resist climate measures. There is often a disconnect between reported concern and actual behavior or voting patterns. Misinformation and the effectiveness of public engagement are rarely addressed, and youth attitudes, despite evidence of confusion and apathy, remain underexplored. Aggregated findings can also obscure important nuances, such as regional climate impacts or rural-urban divides.

One example of the disconnect between policy ambition and public adoption is Japan’s push for net-zero energy houses (ZEHs). Despite government incentives and rising climate awareness, only 13% of newly built custom homes in Japan meet ZEH standards, according to a 2024 Springer Nature study. The research highlights that awareness of energy policy and active information seeking are key predictors of adoption, more so than income or location. This suggests that targeted outreach and education campaigns could significantly increase uptake, especially among younger homeowners and urban dwellers who already express strong concerns about climate change.

To keep pace with rising climate concerns, Japan’s polling methods need an upgrade. Researchers and policymakers should track shifts over time, ask not just what people believe but how they behave, and break down responses by region, gender, age, and political leaning. Combining complex data with interviews and focus groups would reveal more profound insights, particularly regarding youth engagement and blind spots in public understanding. Better polling is just the start. As climate risks intensify, turning concern into action will require broader outreach and more inclusive dialogue, particularly in rural areas and among younger generations. With sharper tools and stronger public buy-in, Japan could move from quiet anxiety to bold leadership.

This post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Japan Country Manager Delmaria Richards.

Learning More Resources

1. Japan Climate Alliance. (2025, May 26). How do people in Japan feel about climate change? https://beyond-coal.jp/en/news/awareness-survey-2025/
2. Ipsos. (2025). People and Climate Change 2025 report. Low. https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2025-04/People%26amp%3BClimateChange2025.pdf
3. Renewable Energy Institute. (2025, June 2). Business Perspectives on Shifting to Renewable Energy. https://beyond-coal.jp/en/documents/powering-up-2025/

Springer Nature. (2024). Public perceptions of net-zero energy houses in Japan. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11625-024-01501-w