"Japan may be at the cutting edge of green technologies, but its capital has the least environmentally conscious residents of eight of the world's richest cities, a poll showed.
More than four in 10 Tokyo residents -- 41.6 percent -- said they "don't want to sacrifice a convenient lifestyle to prevent global warming," according to the poll results published recently by Japanese advertising agency Hakuhodo.
The percentage was the highest among the residents of Tokyo, New York, Paris, London, Milan, Moscow, Toronto and Frankfurt, and well above the average of 29.7 percent, according to the survey of 2,600 people.
Parisians and Milanese were the happiest to change their lifestyles to save the planet, it said.
Tokyo residents scored the lowest among respondents from the eight cities who said they were "having a lifestyle that takes into consideration the environment," Hakuhodo said.
They also ranked the lowest among respondents who said that "an eco-friendly lifestyle is comfortable."
In a list of 27 daily activities considered to counter global warming, from taking only short showers to participating in tree-planting activities, Tokyo residents only scored above average for five of them.
In particular, Tokyo dwellers came last when it comes to studying about global warming or preserving the environment.
They also ranked lowest when it comes to buying eco-friendly products and scored below average for using clean energy, biomass, solar or wind energy.
However, the poll showed that nearly 90 percent of Tokyo residents feel threatened by global warming. They also came tops in responding that "environmental protection is more important than economic growth."
Tokyo residents "have the dilemma of not wanting to give up a convenient lifestyle that they've had for years," Hakuhodo said."
-EcoFlip.org Staff
In their defense they are victims of their own creation. They live in large congested cities. They reside in a poluted extra large city.
I bet most don't even know what clean air and water are. Additionaly, young people are invincible to smoke, exhaust,and treated water.
It will be most interesting to watch groups of people with different attitudes towards humanity and their responsibilty, if any.
Jim Elam
Posted by: Jim Elam | May 20, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Jim,
Great point! Boy, if everyone simply picked up after themselves (so to speak) the green thing would soon become a living reality. It will happen.
Posted by: Forrest | May 20, 2008 at 02:18 PM
You might be a tad optimistic. However, I pray you are correct.
This world seems to subscribe to the ironic payback thory. It would be political incorrect to pinpoint examples. I just got back form Rome and the place looks like an ash tray. The buses
spew out black soot that hugs the monmuents. When tourism dies Rome will once again fall. It's like going back in time when all the people smoke.
Jim Elam
Posted by: Jim Elam | May 20, 2008 at 05:17 PM
I hope that visitors of Rome are not "doing as the Romans" on this one...
Posted by: Forrest | May 21, 2008 at 04:25 PM
What I'm disappointed, I thought Japan was the first country to go green, what happen?
Posted by: Miguel | September 27, 2008 at 01:55 PM