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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

Authors

Kayoko Kondo

Leslie Mabon

Yifan Bi

Yulin Chen

Yuriko Hayabuchi



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 Mar 29, 2024
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