II. "Questionnaire

on Environmental

Problems

and the Survival of Humankind"
Five-Year Summary
Introduction
1 When Will Humankind's Crisis of Survival Come?
1.1 Humanity in Crisis
1.2 Which Generation Will Face the Crisis?
2 Averting the Crisis
2.1 Lifestyle Changes
2.2 Contributions of Science and Technology
2.3 Effective Measures for Solving Environmental Problems
2.4 Environmental Education
2.5 Coping with Overpopulation
2.6 Measures for Dealing with Global Warming
3 Agenda 21
3.1 Evaluation of the Significance of Agenda 21
3.2 Progress on Environmental Issues
3.3 Important Issues by Region
Closing
Appendix: Information about the Questionnaire

261

Introduction

The resolution of environmental problems is one of the most important issues facing all people today, so that our shared home of planet Earth may continue to sustain future generations.
In 1992, the year that the Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, the Asahi Glass Foundation
began conducting a survey to find out how people in different countries felt about the current
state of the environment and what measures they deemed necessary to counter environmental
problems. In 1996, the Foundation held its fifth annual "Questionnaire on Environmental
Problems and the Survival of Humankind." The following is a compilation of the results of thefirst five years of the Foundation's questionnaire.
The people chosen as respondents for the survey are members of international environmental organizations, employees of the environmental divisions of national and local government organizations (GOs), faculty members of universities and university-affiliated research
institutes, members of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) involved with environmental
conservation, and environmental journalists. During the past five years, more than 3,000 people have participated in this questionnaire.
The topics covered by the survey have changed in part from year to year, but somequestions have been asked every year, thus enabling comparisons. Each survey also featured
several questions on specialized areas and topics of particular significance for that given year.
The resolution of global environmental problems, which threaten all humanity's existence, can only be attained through the combined efforts of people around the world overcoming boundaries and differences to work toward a common goal. It is the Foundation's sincere hope that the results of its questionnaire may serve a purpose in setting goals and carryingout measures toward the resolution of these problems.

1. WhenWill Humankind's

1.1 Humanity"Indicateof Survival

Come?

in Crisiswith a time your co

ncern

deteriorationof the environment,

levelson the clock below."shown

Crisisabout
takingthe survival

prospects

into considerationof humankind

the times

in light

and associatedof theconcernThis question, asked in every survey, asks respondents to express their concern abouthumankind's survival in terms of a time on a clock. This clock shows twelve hours from noon
to midnight, divided into four areas. The first area, from 12:01 to 3:00, is described as "Notconcerned at all." The second, from 3:01 to 6:00, is "Slightly concerned," and the third, from
6:01 to 9:00, is "Quite concerned." The last segment of the clock, from 9:01 to 12:00, is labeled"E
xtremely concerned."

263

12
"

9
:01 —1 2:00
Extremely
concerned

0:01 —3:00
Not concerned
at all9

3

6:01-9:00
Quite concerned

3:01
Slightly—6:00
concerned0

The results of this question are shown in Figure 1-1. In the questionnaire's first year, the average time indicated by respondents was 7:49, well into the parameters of "Quite concerned." Ineach of the following years, the average time response has grown later, advancing nearly one
and a half hours in total. In 1996, the average time moved to 9:13, entering the area of extreme
concern.
Figures 1-2 and 1-3 show results by region for 1993 and 1996. In 1993, the first year of thequestionnaire, about 50% of respondents from all areas—with the exceptions of Japan, Eastern
Europe & the former Soviet Union, and the Middle East—chose a time within the range of
extreme concern. Three years later, up to 70% of respondents from Asia, the United States &Canada, Latin America, Western Europe, Africa and Oceania indicated a time in the area of
extreme concern.
In a comparison of responses from men and women, shown in Figure 1-4, women indicatedgreater concern than men overall. In 1996, more than one-quarter of women chose 12:00, thetime indicating the most extreme concern.
1.2 Which Generation"In whichgeneration

Will Face the Crisis?
do youbasedon the mass-production

In the1996 questionnaire,

their grandchildren,

respondents

weretheir great-grandchildren,

The largest

1992

humanity

numberwill becomeand mass-consumption

most likely to face the crisis.

grandchildren's

think

asked

are shownof respondents

indicatedthat

the full consequences(+30 minutes)

1993(+28 minutes)

1994
12

that

to maintainits existenceof present-day

civilization?

a generation—theirchildren,

generations—that

in Figuregeneration12

to chooseor subsequent

The results

12

unablestandards

they

they

felt was

1-5.
believed

it would

be in theirof environmental

problems

would(+2 minutes)

1995(+24 minutes)

12

1996
12

(

3)4(9

314(9
6

6

6

6

7:49

8:19

8:47

8:49

9:13

1-1 Changes

in Time from Year to Year

6

Figure2643

befelt. The second
theselargesttwo groups,

ing the middle

numberchose

their children's

we see that more than 70%

generation.

of respondents

By addingbelievethe responses

the crisis

forwill comedur-of the 21st century.

1993(%) Extremely

concerned

Quite concerned

Slightly concerned

Not concerned

at allNo response

Japan
Asia (outside Japan)
United States & Canada
Latin America
Western Europe
2.

EasternEurope& the RamerSovietUnion

7.7.

Middle East
AfricaOceania

Figure1-2

1993 Results

by Region
1996( )Extremely

concerned

Quite concerned

Slightly concerned

Not concerned

at allNo responseJapan
la 1:8

66.7

Asia (outside Japan)

27.0 ge 11/N

United States & Canada
Latin America

5.7
2.9

Western Europe

70.1

22.1
2.62.6

EasternEurope& theformerSovietUnion
Middle East

Figure

43.8
36.4

43.8
45'5171

Africa59.4

Oceania

57.1

1-3 1996 Results,7r/fin
37.5

28.6

2.6

Aff
4 34
4.3

by Region

265

1996
(%)
30
27.8
•

24.1
!I(
21.5

/ 20.4\\19.4/

• ..,

20

1t3-,

19.7

16.6

Male

9:01
9:58

Female

5.6

1'

/ •

5.4

4.5

-

7:00

,

10.9'/'

10

4.5

00:00-

.2 0

1:00

-

1-4 Concern-10.9-

"•

o

2:00

Not concerned
Figure0.5 0.6

o-

3.9/

13.2

-a-Total- - -A- - Male- ^ - -Female

1.9

0

3:00

at all

,•1.7 .•

1.9
0

15.7

13.0

9.5 ./

0.9.7 1111,,,_

16.1

A,

-

4:00

-

Slightly

about the Survival

5:00

-

6:00

concerned
Prospects

-

8:00

-

9:00

10:00 -

Extremely

Quite concernedof Humankind-

11:00 -- 12:00

concerned

1996

1996
(%)

10

20

30

40

Male

Total

Female0 39.2Your children's generation-(by the year 2030)
Your grandchildren's(from 2031 to 2065)

generation

Your great-grandchildren's(from 2066 to 2100)

Figure266.

Acomment

%Id

:A
41.5

generation

A generation further in the future(after the year 2100)
Cannot35/ No response

1-5 When Will the Crisis Come?

10.3

•

-..

15.3
•
3.1./
(2(
5.15.3.•• 14.3

9.0 d
0 12.4
9.5• •••"

43.2

2. Averting
2.1

Lifestyle"Lately

the Crisis
Changesthere

has been

throwawaylifestyle.

electricity,purchasing

householdgarbage?"a crisis

sumption,

throwaway
could

rowingproducts

of survival,

adapting

measureout by individuals

1996, are shownin Figureby answering

we should

changea more

would

which

our overconsumption,

frugalsound,

lifestyle,e.g., using

lessor reducing

the amountofbe altering

New ways of living that wouldof this question,of changethatare environmentally

one possible

sibility
some

that

lifestyles.

be carried

The resultsconsensus

How do you feel about

To avertronment

a g

reducepresent-day

overcon-the burden

on the envi-

makingchangesin their daily

lives.

was asked

in eachof the threeyears

2-1. Approximately

80% of respondents

that they "alreadyfromshoweda belief

adapt"or "could

have adapted/can

1994

to

in the posadapt

toextent."Already have adapted/
Can adapt

Could adapt tosome extent

Could adapt withdifficulty

Impossible

to adapt

No response

(%)
1996

44.0

1995

41.8

,v,-..,..-,‘,-.,,,,,4,—Nsty,,,rvzlw\,--lw

7'•'' ''.-1`,>w,k,$W.0,-''',---kkk.'1,-, 13e1dAll
2.0
' ,;:
-----,• ,'-',f‹ -•"'""`',W.‘„N,,N,,,<,`-,,,1 118/,,,:vs-\:p ,,,,,,,,-,A,, <,• •, ‘
m-,,\,,,,,,-‘k.„s: \,,,,,.--k., , , , ,‘,„,,,%,• /41112,0.7...,„1k: 0, ,•k,,

0.7

, , ,
.;,; -,.-,,,,,\---%•‘‘n,,, ,k\\\.:;<w,' „,\i, ,7,‘;‘,v/,,.'s<:.:>,. „7,,,. ,..,4.‘,,",,,,,,,‘,v.„'....,,:,,,,,%,::,&.,,,:,,,,,, ,,,,,, .

44.8

1994

17.7

10
1.0

Figure2-1 Lifestyle

Changes,

1994-1996

Presented in Figure 2-2 are data on a regional basis. The bar graph shows the percentage of"already have adapted/can ada
pt" responses for 1996. This percentage is relatively low forJapan, Eastern Europe & the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, and Africa. However, forall other regions more than 50% of respondents answered "already have adapted/can adapt ,"with the greatest percentage from the United States and Canada, followed by Latin America ,Oceania, Western Europe and Asia. In addition, women gave a higher percentage of "alreadyhave adapted/can adapt" responses than men.
Respondents
selection

were

also

of their answers,

asked

to give examples

in their own words,of how they
are givenare changing

theirlifestyles. A

below.

• We havejust one child. We take the bus to work. We do not use fertilizer/pesticides.We buy
what we need, and we don't shop aimlessly. (Canada)•

Reducedenergyconsumption

by 50% , sold one car and reduced

use of the other by 50%;

267

(%)
1996
AlreadJapan

have ada ted/Can

adapt

27%

Asia
United80%

States & Canada
Latin America
Western

M65%

EuropeEastern Europe & the former Soviet Union
MiddleIM 13%

East

36%

Africa1:1`:138%a

Oceania
Overseas

67%

total

60%

..........,::142%

Male

55%

Female

1995

1994

(1)

(2)

(1)

(2)

(1)

(2)

27

53

23

65

29

59

54

30

53

34

58

9

80

16

92

8

83

4

71

23

75

15

53

25

65

25

63

29

50

32

13

56

7

36

29

24

36

46

50

31

38

47

39

36

45

17

67

14

46

41

73

14

60

28

56

29

55

18

42

42

38

48

42

36

55

34

56

33

55

26

Notes: Column (1) indicates percentage of "already have adapted/can adapt" responses.
Column (2) indicates percentage of "could adapt to some extent" responses.

Figure2-2 "AlreadyHave Adapted/Can

Adapt"

Responses

by Region

do not fly anymore; use regional products if possible; invest in ecological projects; use
20% of income for environmental organizations,etc. (Germany)•

Own no car . Do not heat all rooms in winter. Do not cook for one person only. Recycle asmuch as possible. (Switzerland)•

Giving up a second car in our family and using public transport, saving and reusing wrappings, recycling everything possible and conforming to local regulations for waste disposal. (United Kingdom)•

Have a kitchen garden for family meals, avoid buying newspapers and paperbacks, write on
both sides of paper, avoid incinerating domestic waste. (Latvia)• In India and other developing countries,particularly in South Asia, it is estimated that morethan 520 million people are living below the poverty line and need major help from theindustrialized nations to alleviate their poverty and improve their lives. It is the lifestyles
and patterns of over-consumptionin affluentnations that are causing the greatest problems
globally.It is they who should reduce their consumption and waste. Seeing and experiencing may be a better mode of change than merely trying to raise the awareness of the people. Affluent people should experience the lifestyle of poor nations in small groups for aperiod of 2-3 months. Upon their return home, they would become very effective agents ofchange in their society,helping to bring a perceptible change in lifestyles and consumption
patterns. (India)

268

2.2

Contributions"The

activities

tributeof Science
below

to the resolution

andare consideredTechnology
key to enhancing

of environmental

problems.

scienceWhichand technology's
do you thinkability

are the mostto con impor-tant in this respect?"

Probably few would disagree that our present-day civilization is built upon science and technology and their major advances in the modern era. Science and technology have made possible mass production, although this has spurred higher levels of consumption and waste disposal and led to environmental problems. On the other hand, the latest scientific advances arealso important to the measurement of changes in the global environment and to making predictions about the future. In addition, they have contributed to the formulation of environmental measures, including emissions controls, recycling, and cleanup efforts for pollutants.
Depending on its application, modern science is a double-edged sword. In 1993, respondents
were asked how they felt about technology's role in the search for solutions to environmental
problems. Their answers are shown in Figure 2-3.
Respondents were asked to choose four activities and rank them from one to four.
Examining the total of items ranked one to four, the item selected most often was activating aninterdisciplinary cultural and natural sciences' approach toward the environment. The item thatwas ranked number one by the most respondents was establishing clear strategies and goals forscience and technology. The third most popular answer was establishing methods of evaluat1993
20

(%)
(a)

Bolster awareness that the mission of scienceand technology is the discovery of facts andthe application of these findings, and work
toward reaching this ideal(b)

Establish clear strategies and goals for scienceand technology(c)Establish methods of evaluating scientificresults from the viewpoint of environmental
preservation(d)

Activate an interdisciplinary cultural and naturalsciences' approach toward the environment(e)

Establish arrangements or methods, including areversal of the trend to adhere to the protectionof intellectual property tights, that will result ingreater dissemination of scientific researchfindings, thus enhancing their practical value(f)Increase funding for science and technology

(g)

Other

Figure2-3 Contributionsof Science

40

60

80

igN

,

ix,ig
y.g.t.,,,,:1P4i.W.,4*'Entri,11,......:'
l'i•:....15:.,,t:smaisim..mmtiri*:.:§*N14,,,,,,,,'•••••,,,,..m...
1..,,,,,
IsA,,w-o,v**,','''ms'4"'"'"k'''"'""'',,,,,,,,:,.,,,,,,,,,,,.....,,,,,,,,,,Li,,M,,,,,,,,

•

Ratio

given priorities

Ratio

given top priority

1 to 4and Technology

269iing scientificcommon2.3

results

response

Effectivefromthe viewpoint

was increasing

Measuresamong

the following

mentalproblems,

which

To find solutions
on a national

Table

and regulations

aimed

at solving

effectivein your country?

Choosefour."

be mostand international

basis.

2-1 Economic

problems,

Since

years

Measuresthat

variousmeasures1993, this questionnaire

they feel to be most effective.
this question

has asked

respondents

are shownin Table 2-1.

was asked,

the top three

responses

Problems
1993-1995.ee4'4'04'03,N),

•0.0

•4°
4,-

.

.4>

'93

Japan

'94
'95
'93

Asia (outside Japan)

'94
'95
'93

UnitedStatesScCanada

'94
'95
'93

Latin America

'94
'95
'93

Western Europe

'94
'95
'93

EstemEurope & theformer Soviet Union

'94
'95

e

,?
,04 .cso .
. ,

44ocv

.cs4v
. Owe
"')(%)

046
12 54 - - - 18 0 - 20 2
32 0 10 33 22 14 0 24 39 16 23 6
GI 29 OD 10 21 35 12 47 16 0 17 28 3
0 19 0 12 30 - - - 42 35 - 21 12
0 20 3 7 41 25 24 0 30 29 41 11 5
29 39 8 23 29 18 0 0 23 24 26 7
0 9 0 18 9 - - - 0 32 - 27 18
el 4 0 26 17 4 39 0 44 13 17 13 9
OD 24 0 8 12 - 20 IT 40 36 24 8 4
0 27 0 11 57 - - - 50 0 - 11 84211288 0 1739g28 4214 6
8

31

6

35

29

1931

38

6

6

29 0 29 16 - - - ® 32 - 21 5
16 0 15 21 7 24 CD 50 15 16 10 7
0 10 10 13 15 19 18 0 43 22 24 10 100 8 0 8 31 - - - 39 C) - 31 8 0
18 el 24 35 0 24 0 29 18 18 6 36 14 0 7 50 43 7 0 14 () 7 7 -'93

Middle East

'94
'95
'93

Africa

'94
'95
'93

Oceania'94'95

0 38 19 13 25 25 19 0 25 0 0 25 6
0 33 0 15- -20
38 - 38 5
36 16 31 541)362429
32 0 29 7
49 18 a) 9 23 - - - 0 32 - 0 9
23 1 27 23 9 1832 41 27 9 946 18 36 5 32 23 0 0 27 32 0 14 14

09 366 0 34388232340156

Note: The circles indicate items with the top three percentage figures per region.
The No.1 response for each region has been marked with a double circle.

270/

environ-need to be undertaken

The results

Aimed at Solvin g Environmental

e
44‘.4

most

and technology.

measuresenvironmental

the three

and the next

Problems

economic

would

for science

preservation,

Environmental

to complex

select the measures
Duringfundingfor Solving"Fromof environmental

were,

to
in

orderfrom one to three,and financial
and third
region.

incentivesof theseregulations

to limit harmful

industrial

activities,

environmental

taxes,

to encourage

environmentallyfriendly

activities.

In particular,

the first

items

were

However,the second

from economicallydeveloped

Japan,

and by Easterndeveloping

regions

Oceania,

regulations

Respondents
ulations.
regions•regions,

Europesuch

chosenby moreitem, environmental

as Latin

to limit

Fundamental
are clearly

differences

shown

Union

Africa,the way land

were also asked to comment

the United

SovietAmerica,half of respondents

taxes, was chosen

including& the former

than

from

most

almostevery

often by respondents

States & Canada,Western

as well.

respondents

fromas well

as fromAmongand the Middle

East,

Europe,can be utilized

wereregarded

as very important.

on their opinions

about

economic

measuresand reg-

and economicallymaturein views

in the following

betweenselection

developingof thesecomments.

Regulatory processes combined with financial incentives could make the difference at alllevels. (Niger)•

Regulations are necessary , but we must employ economic measures that will raise people's
consciousness about the need to solve environmental problems. (Japan)•

I support the "polluters pay" principle . (Philippines)•

Business and trade organizations should supervise their members' activities and monitor
for potential harm to the environment. (Turkey)•

I think ecological tax reform is the thing we have to do . (Switzerland)•

Heavy penalties and taxes should be imposed if rules of environmental conservation are notfollowed. Industrialists should install waste treatment plants and, if they do not, then theirrights to operate should be revoked. (India)•

Efforts are necessary to establish more efficient control mechanisms to ensure that existing
regulations will be kept. (Germany)

2.4

Environmental

Education"Of the following
higheststrategies

priority

for the promotion

education

future.

this questionnairementaleducation.
The most

education, w hich are given

thein your country?"

Environmental
In 1993,of environmental

is one of the measures

The resultscommonly

examined

are shownchosenin Figureresponse

lookedto with the greatest

the priority

given

to variousof hopesfor thefacetsof environ-

educational

resources

2-4.

was the needto develop

271

1993

20

(%)

40

60

I.

I

80

(a) Establish consensus about the content andfocus of the curriculum for people of varying
socioeconomic groups

anwzyr—oneangt attLWOWS _MOMS
afist,Lasomal,,z,d(h) Increase the number and quality of people
promoting education*1-(c) Develop educational resources and methods
and enrich educational programs

1111112VAMNIMINSSONni(d) Establish systems and organizations that will
result in the furtheringof education(e) Improve facilities that conduct practical nature
education programs
(t)

nod

Vleaa

WNW"

Ibe

VAWANN

Enrich learning activities to elicit greater
participation

1111111Seingig(g) Enhance political leadership

Ratio given priorities

1 to 4

Ratio given top priority(h) Other

Figure2-4 Environmental

and methods

Educationand enrichthese programs

educational

programs.

and the need for their further

This perhaps
elaboration.

by respondents

were the need to increase

the numbertion;systemsthatestablish

establish

consensus

conomic

groups.

2.5

Coping"Amongwithto consider
containedThe
developing

and quality

will resultand focus

the relativeof people

promotingin the furtheringof the curriculum

newnessofnext in importanceeduca-of education,andfor peopleof various

socioe-do you thinkshouldbe given

Overpopulation
possiblesolutionsto overpopulation, whichpriority?"

If environmental

nomic

about the content

the many

the highest

and organizations

indicates

The items ranked

problems

the global

are to be examined

problemwith any seriousness,of overpopulation.

The surveys

a question

about

overpopulation,

the results

solutionchosenby more70%

countries.

growththan

The next most popularof whichof respondents

measuresand standardsof livingin developingwere

to give th eir personalthen it becomesin 1993andare shownin Figure

2-5.

was

were family
countries,

necessaryconducted

to increaseplanning,

1994

education
raisingand heightening

the eco-the status

women.

Respondents

272

also

asked

opinionsabout

the populationinproblem.

of1993-1994

Percentage of respondentsranking the item 1, 2, or 3 (%)

20

40

60

80

1994
(a) Family Planning

1993(b) Heighten women's status

1993

1994

1994
(c) Increase educationin developing countries •199311
1994(d) Restrict the number of children per family

199311(e)Raiseeconomic
growthandstandardsof 1994livingmdeveloping
countries 1993
1994(f)Correctenergyconsumptiondisparity 1993 iv(g)Expandalternativeformsof energyand 1994
secureadequatefoodand watersupplies 1993 •1994(h) Other 1993 t

Figure2-5 Solutions

to OverpopulationMany

respondents

emphasizedcountries•

and raise standards

the need to provide
of living.

The following

bettereducation

is a selection

for women

in developingof some of these comments.

Limiting population , growth can be achieved by increasing general awareness and heightening women's status in society. However, the energy consumption disparity which exists
between the developed and developing countries needs to be balanced. (India)•

Good education , fairstandardsof livingand effective

familyplanning

are interrelated.

(Madagascar)273

• If the overall standard of living in developing countries is improved , this could go far in
reducing population growth. It is the poor in the developing countries who have the mostchildren. Reduce poverty and we are on our way! (Jamaica)•

The world must try to overcome ignorance in the developed countries because more than
70% of the world's people are illiterate. The minority of the world's population living in thedeveloped countries use 80% of the world's resources. (Benin)•

Although the best way of confronting overpopulation is to heighten women's status andincrease the general level of education, these things take a long time. Until they can be realized, national restrictions on children per family are useful. (Iran)•

Solutions to the problem of overpopulation must not lose sight of human dignity and an
individual's personal and moral right to determine how he or she should form a family.
(Philippines)•

For a developing country like Nicaragua , the most important thing is to educate people, inthis case girls, because most mothers with big families are poorly educated and have nomeans of supporting themselves. (Nicaragua)

2.6 Measuresfor Dealing

with Global Warming"Wh
at will be the most effective measures for dealing with global warming?"
Opinions on the subject of global warming differ widely,both among people in economicallyadvanced countries and between developing and economically developed countries. This isbecause factors contributing to global warming include both the burning of fossil fuels indeveloped countries, which results in emissions of carbon dioxide, and the cutting down offorests in developing countries, which leaves fewer trees to absorb excess carbon dioxide.
Questionnaireparticipants were asked their opinions about global warming in 1995and1996. The answers to the survey in 1995, which asked about effective measures for dealing
with global warming, are shown in Figure 2-6.
Respondents rated recyclable energy resources as the most effective way to counter
global warming. With the exception of the Middle East, more than half of respondents fromnearly all regions chose this solution. Opinions on the other measures were sharply divided by.
region. Specifically, economically advanced regions such as the United States & Canada,Western Europe, and Japan rated environmental taxes highly, while respondents from Africa,
Asia, and Latin America supported the expansion of tree cover. Both measures received highmarks in Oceania.
In 1996, questionnaire respondents were asked their opinions about the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC). The objective of the FCCC is to stabilize274concentrationsof greenhouse gas in the atmosphere at safe levels. As the first step toward thisobjective, the FCCC calls for developed countries to stabilize their emissions of carbon dioxide at 1990 levels by the year 2000.Respondents were asked to evaluate the attainability of thistargeted first step.
The combined total of "attainable"and "partially attainable" responseswas nearly 40%.
However, the combined total of "probably difficult to attain" and "completely unattainable"
responses was greater than 55%, showing that more than half of the respondents are pessimistic about progress on this issue.
1995

^?'

-

Scs:'+'

oNig' ''ro
. OR.
0,S e
-s'a' 4,' c," • 'z'"o'cc‘.ce tiz''

Total

(%)
1.Fuelandenergyefficiency

16 26C) 0 0 0 0 27 0

2.Carbondioxidefixation
technology

15

21

12

3. Energy-efficienthousing!1;1:11
12

19

4.Recyclable
energyresources

14

31

23

19

27

23

® 0 56 650 CD190 0

5. Nuclear
power
6.Lowerindustrial
energyuse

23 23 20 23 22 0 25 18 18

7.Cogeneration
systems
8. Energy-efficienthomeappliances ,9.Environmental
taxes

14
21

n111:11431

0 210 190 21 25 130
0 11 27

10.Publictransportation
M1011;11;11122 20 31 16 15 29
11.Limitations
onuseofcars Hi
12:Expansion
oftreecover M.

23
35

0 13 12 17 14 14 31 13 27
28 0 280 18 210 0 0. 13.Methanegasrecovery12
14. Individual energy conservation

efforts

15. OtherNotes:

Figure2-6 Important

1)
2)

Measures13

cp 0 C) 31 30

Only percentages above 10% are recorded.
The circles indicate items with the top three percentage

for Dealing

250 27A

figures per region.

with Global Warming

275

1996

No response 0.5 %Attainable

Cannot comment 4.6 %Completely

unattainable

8
Probably

Figure276

2-7 Evaluationdifficultto attainof Attainability

Partially

attainable3. Agenda

Agenda21

21, an international

actionrange

of issues

rangingfrom

catingpoverty.

As such, Agenda

combatingplan. These
3.1

of Agenda

results

Evaluation"Howare detailed

are the items

to dealing

an important

this questionnaire

21 and on progress

madeand development, covers a broadwith overpopulationand eradi-

first step for humankind.

has surveyed

respondents'

on environmental

issuesopinions
coveredonby thebelow.

of the Significanceimportantpollution

21 represents

In each of the past five years,
the significanceplan for the environmentof Agenda

contained21

in Agenda

21, the action

plan

adoptedat the Earth

Summit?"Responses to the above question for 1994 are shown in Figure 3-1 . Of the total, 59% of respondents answered that Agenda 21 is extremely important as a plan for humanity to follow into
the next century, and 32% stated that it is quite important . The combined total of 91% shows
an overwhelming majority of support for the plan.

1994

No response 1%
Cannot comment 4 %
Not

ini

ortant at all 1%

Not

ver

important 3 %Extremely
important
as a planfor humanity
to follow into theQuite important

next century

Figure3-1 Importanceof Items Containedin Agenda

21

277

3.2

Progress"Sinceon Environmental

the Earththe following

SummitIssues, to what

areas covered

extentby Agenda

has progress

been

achieved

in yourThis question has been included in the questionnaireinevery year from 1993 to 1996. From thesecond year onward, not much change has been reported by respondents,
reflected in the responses

own country

21?"

and this trend is also

for 1996. Figure 3-2 shows the latest data, for 1996, and also depicts

the direction of the overall four-year

trend with an arrow.

During the past four years, a high percentageof respondents

indicatedthat local GO andcitizen's group activities as well as environmental education showed "significant progress" or"some progress." Other areas for which progress was evaluated favorably were NGO activities,
ozone layer protection
development,

Areas showing
involvement

measures,international

scientific and technologicalcooperativeadvancement,

efforts to promote

and industrial

sustainablesector policies.

an upward trend over the past four years include items that reflect theof individuals.

These include NGO activities and the establishmentof recycling

systems. On the other hand, items showing a downtrend

tended to involve complex problems

requiring

related to destructionsocial change for their resolution

or problems

ment. These included poverty and overpopulation,
terns, and forest conservation,
3.3

Important"What

Issuesdo you believe

desertification,changes in lifestyles and consumption

and protectionof freshwater

are the mostissues are most important

importantenvironmental

were asked an additional

issuesin yourowncountry?"question about which environmental

in their own countries. The results for both years are recorded

Table 3-1. One item that was viewed as important by respondents

Respondentspat-resources.

by Region

In 1995 and 1996, respondents

ber 19, environmentalof the environ-infrom all regions is item num-education.
fromdeveloping

regionssuch as Asia,

Latin. America,and Africa

placedgreater significanceon poverty and overpopulation
as well as sustainableagriculturaland ruraldevelopment.
For the developed
regions such as the United States & Canada,Western Europe,
and Japan,

items rated most importantthe integration
lightedThe following•of economic

the variancesand environmental

in regional

is a sampling

were changes

viewpointsof comments

in lifestyles

policies.

These

on environmental

from respondents

and consumption
differences

patterns

in responses

and
high-

problems.

about

Agenda21.

Crucial in Agenda 21 was the establishment of open communication on environmental
problems by governmental organizations (including municipalities) with factories and citizens. Only together can we solve the problems. (Netherlands)

278

1996

•

Signific(A)antSom(B)e Cannot
progressprogressdetermine(%)

Almost no
progress

4-YearTrend

No
progress

I. International cooperative efforts. 4•

2. Poverty and overpopulation
3. Lifestyles and consumption patterns

4.LoCalGOandcitizens'group
activities6 •:-• • • •57

i".141:13••

5. NGOactivities 13.•••.•621,4

6. Industrialsectorpolicies 5•d8 . •

7.Global
warming
8.Ozonelayerprotection11•

9. Acid rainreduction•24:•illiMakSINFMISCAtifirilla4• • •:.

•.01WIPA.

••

10.Forest
conservation
5::::0:i..11:11110:511111111%;4t.4510S.413.
11.Desertification
41.H:13-.:•.1.1:1211iiiiiiiE:4:01figadiali:El;1.41!.71:!et:,.1A.4.,•
12. Agricultural

andrural development
13. Biodiversity

14. Protection

4of oceans

15.Protection
offreshwaterresources
3

EDI

16.Hazardous waste disposal 5.• 35. •17. Recycling systems 5

46

18. Scientific and technologicaladvancement 7
19. Environmentaleducation•
12

20. Environmental assessment system5.

2i.Iritegration
ofeconomic
andenvironmental
policies
Notes:

Figure

• .54

•

29:.

.34).••x• 11111411111114114411111fileelx

In cases where no answerhas been indicatedby a respondent,a responseof "cannotdetermine"has beenrecorded.
An "x" indicatesan item added to the Questionnairein 1996.

3-2 Progress

on Environmental

Issues since the Earth Summit• It is importantfor all the Earth's countries to stay focused on environmental protection col lectively and similarly—much like the agenda outlined in Rio. We must all actively workon the objectives we set out at the Earth Summit, but we must remain realistic in doing
this—sticking to our deadlines and communicating through internationally circulated"progress reports." (U.S.A.)•

International

cooperation, basedon global

partnerships,

must

be strongly

promoted.

We

279

Table 3-1 Areas Most Important

in Respondent's

Own Countries

by Region
1995-1996

dos
e

(%)
I. International

cooperative

efforts

'95

17

'96

21

10
13

'95
2. Poverty and overpopulation

3. Lifestyles and consumption patterns
4. Local GO and citizens' group activities
5. NGO activities
6. Industrial sector policiei
7. Global warming

'96

6,,

14
20

te
06'

18

18

13

14

0

19

13
10
13

12

13

'95

16

10

'96

21

26

'95

15

13

13

14

'96

16

11

12

14

'95

11

13
25

14

'96

14

'95

19

'96

22

'95

15

'96

11

18

10

13

18

14

22

17

18

15

13

14

10

'95

8. Ozone layer protection

'96
'95

9. Acid rain reduction
10. Forest conservation

'96

'95

18

10

•0

23

'96

19

11

19

16

'95
11. Desertification

'96
'95

12. Agriculturaland rural development
13. Biodiversity

18

'96

14

'95

10

'96

13

'95
14. Protectionof oceansof fresh water

16. Hazardous

waste disposal

23

25

24

0
13

16

20

'96
'95

15. Protection

14

12

'96

13

14

10

'95

19

0

'96

12

'96

14

13

19

'95
17. Recycling systems

14

24

13
13

28

19

18

'95
18. Scientific and technological advancement

'96

15

'95
19. Environmental
20. Environment

educationasssesssment

system

12
ao

12

12

13

16

4

24

10

'96
'95
'96

14

27

16

18

25

10

'95

21. Integrationofeconomic and environmentalpolicies'964Notes: The above figures show the number of times the item was chosen as a percentage
The circles indicate items with the top three percentage figures per region.
The No. 1 response for each region has been marked with a double circle.
Percentages of less than 10% are indicated by blank cells in the table.

of total responses.

must seek not to contribute to global well-being through donations but to seriously consider
the world's problems as our own. (Japan)•

Indigenous healing culture fits with the cycle of water distilled by the sun from the sea,soaked up by forests and redistributed by rivers, lakes, and springs, and also with the carbon cycle, the biological cycle, and the cycle of birth and death of civilizations such as theWest's. They need our respect and support for us to survive. (Australia)

280

•

We should always remember the evolution of nature . We are developing together—natureand humankind. Therefore, our main task is to understand the process better and prevent
abrupt changes in our activity, including emissions, discharges, global interferences , etc.
We must also correct problems in our environment to provide valid living conditions.
(Russia)

Closing
Since it was first carried out in 1992, the Asahi Glass Foundation's "Questionnaire on
Environmental Problems and the Survival of Humankind" has attracted interest from generaland environment-specific newspapers and magazines in Japan and overseas. In addition, thesurvey, as a compilation of the opinions of international specialists concerned with global
environmental problems, has also been mentioned in the Environment Agency of Japan'sannual white paper on the environment.
In particular, the survey's question about humanity in crisis, which uses a clock to gauge
levels of concern, has been featured by the print and television media. This clock has served
as a symbol of the urgency with which we must endeavor to resolve environmental problems.
The survey's findings on issues concerning individuals, such as lifestyle changes, as well as
issues concerning nations, such as Agenda 21, have also been cited in the press, and the questionnaire has come to be regarded as a reliable index of opinion on environmental issues.
Thanks to members of the media, our "Questionnaire on Environmental Problems andthe Survival of Humankind" has helped generate worldwide interest in environmental issues
and their resolution. The Asahi Glass Foundation will continue to carry out this survey andfocus attention on the opinions of people working to solve environmental problems around theworld.

Information

about the "Questionnaire

on Environmental

Problems and the Survival of

Humankind"

Response

PeriodQuestionnaires Returned

Response

1992

6/29-8/17

1,054

1993

5/6-6/30

282

11.0%

1994

4/1-7/8

504

20.8%

1995

4/1-7/10

576

21.7%

1996

4/1-7/10

589

18..4%The questionnaire

respondent

Glass

database.

Foundation

pool is selectedfrommembers

Rate

28.3%

of GOsand NGOsin the Asahi

281

Number of Questionnaires

Returned by Region/Sex

Region

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Japan

877

61

189

248

282

Asia (outside Japan)

30

43

92

62

63

United

49

22

23

25

51

11

37

36

48

35

39

38

62

79

77

13

13

17

14

16

9

6

4

16

11

40

53

62

32

22

22

21
1

Latin

States& Canada

America

WesternEuropeEasternEuropeformerSovietMiddleEast

Africa

& the
Union

N/A

Oceania

9

22

Other

17

0

6

0

Sex

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Male

995

195

390

444

470

Female

44

61

110

119

108

No response

15

26

4

13

11

282