Abstract
The objective of the present paper is to investigate public attitude toward global warming (GW) mitigation policies implemented by local governments, in particular policies for installation of low carbon systems in residential sectors. We conducted a questionnaire survey of residents in Saitama, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Osaka and Sakai cities where local environmental problems such as an urban heat-island effect and photochemical smog are relatively serious. First, we compared attitudes towards policies for GW with those for the local problems, because previous studies have showed that the public have different attitudes toward identical measures according to problems addressed. Taking measures to promote energy efficient hot water systems or vehicles, such as obligations to purchase those systems, as examples, we found that there is no significant difference between the GW and local problems. Second, we found that in order to obtain positive attitudes by over 65% respondents toward the obligations, which a previous study referred to as a requirement when local governments implement obligatory measures, high initial costs of the systems are required to be recovered within three years.
