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

Kondo, Kayoko; Mabon, Leslie; Bi, Yifan; Chen, Yulin; Hayabuchi, Yuriko

Abstract

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.

Citation

KONDO, K., MABON, L., BI, Y., CHEN, Y. and HAYABUCHI, Y. 2021. Balancing conflicting mitigation and adaptation behaviours of urban residents under climate change and the urban heat island effect. Sustainable cities and society [online], 65, article ID 102585. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102585

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 29, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 8, 2020
• Publication Date: Feb 28, 2021
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 13, 2020
• Journal: Sustainable Cities and Society
• Print ISSN: 2210-6707
• Electronic ISSN: 2210-6715
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 65
• Article Number: 102585
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102585
• Keywords: Air conditioning; Climate change communication; Cooling behaviours; Urban climate change; Urban heat island
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/996904