Balancing conflicting mitigation and adaptation behaviours of urban residents under climate change and the urban heat island effect

Bibliographic Data

ID21234342
AuthorsKayoko Kondo (0000-0003-3510-7425, Kyushu University, corresponding author), Leslie Mabon (0000-0003-2646-6119, Robert Gordon University), Yifan Bi (Kyushu University), Yulin Chen (0009-0009-5703-7991, Kyushu University), Yuriko Hayabuchi (0000-0002-1288-6924, Kyushu University)
Year2021
Volume65
Pages102585
Publication date2021-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSustainable Cities and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2210-6707 • E-ISSN: 2210-6715
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.scs.2020.102585
PMID33537182
OpenAlexW3106030025
LanguageEN
Citations received25
References cited33

Under a warming climate and urban heat island effects, cooling behaviours are increasingly important for city dwellers. Cooling actions, especially air conditioning, receive increasing scrutiny in social science, as does engagement and communication on behaviours spanning adaptation and mitigation. In response, this paper evaluates the relation between residents' adaptation and mitigation behaviours around cooling in Fukuoka, Japan, and draws lessons for communication on encouraging adaptation and mitigation actions. A survey distributed to residents in six areas of Fukuoka, Japan, assessed perceptions of global warming and urban heat island effects, frequency of mitigation and adaptation behaviours, use of air conditioning, electricity bills and evaluation of green spaces. We observe a difference between respondents using air conditioning with an energy-saving (i.e. mitigation) focus, versus those using air conditioning with an adaptation (i.e. cooling) focus. We also note residents emphasising mitigation behaviours may use shade in parks or cooling centres as alternative cooling strategies, but that awareness of effective air conditioning use may be lacking. Our findings build on existing literature by reinforcing - in a subtropical context - the need to reconsider practices around air conditioner use; and illustrate the value of a breadth of messages to promote joint mitigation and adaptation actions

Air conditioning · Climate change · Climate change mitigation · Economics · Environmental economics · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Geography · Global warming · Meteorology · Political science · Scrutiny · Thermal comfort · Urban heat island · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Engineering · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Environmental Science · Psychology · Urban Green Space and Health