MOE publishes the results of the 2020 Situational Survey on the implementation of the basic policy of the Law for Promotion of Environmental Conservation Activities through Environmental Education, etc

（Tokyo, May 10 2021）The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) conducted the 2020 Situational Survey (questionnaire based), from March 3^rd 2021 to March 5^th 2021. The survey was conducted in relation to the implementation of the basic policy of the Law for Promotion of Environmental Conservation Activities through Environmental Education, etc. MOE has published the survey results on its website to be widely available.

1. Survey outline

(1) Purpose of the survey

Under the basic policy of the Law for Promotion of Environmental Conservation Activities through Environmental Education, etc (hereinafter "the basic policy", Cabinet decision, in June 2018), MOE will consider improving its environmental measures according to the public's awareness on environmental conservation and the impact of environmental education resulting from the implementation of the basic policy. It is also necessary to identify new challenges to improve policy measures.

MOE conducted the web survey to understand (1) changes in the public's awareness on environmental conservation following the implementation of environmental education, (2) new challenges encountered by environmental education, as a result of societal changes. MOE published the survey's detailed results.

(2) MOE conducted two separate surveys for the general public and educators

a) Survey for the general public

(number of questions: 27, number of respondents: 2,075)

The survey for the general public was designed to understand:

- Recent changes in the public's awareness on environmental conservation

- Awareness of environmental education activities

- Cooperation with other organizations

b) Survey for educator

(number of questions: 15, number of respondents: 1,000)

The survey for educators was designed to understand:

- Motivation and current efforts related to Education Sustainable Development (ESD)

and environmental education

- Change in attitudes toward environmental education in schools, communities, and

among parents.

- Challenges identified during environmental classes and activities

- Ways to highlight the importance of ESD

Kiyoka Miki, Director, Office of Environmental Education declared:

"It was realized through this survey that we have improved our understanding of the current state of environmental education in Japan. It was also clarified that the public's awareness of resource recycling such as waste separation and awareness of water quality conservation are relatively widespread. We will continue to effectively implement various measures by utilizing the collected information in order to develop environmental education in Japan."

2．Survey Results

　 To see the detailed results of the survey: Click here (in Japanese).

The main results are as follows:

　Questionnaire for the general public (Q.4)

Choose the behavior closest to your lifestyle.

- Separation and recycling of garbage:

45% of respondents answered "On a daily basis," and

50% - 80% "when I can."

- Choosing eco-friendly transportation:

The portion of respondents considering the environment in their choice

of transportation was low.

The portion of respondents declaring, "I do not want to choose eco-friendly transportation"

was comparatively high (5%).

Questionnaire for the general public (Q.16 x age)

Where did you learn about environmental issues? (Multiple answers allowed)

-"At school"

85% of those aged 29 and under, 78% of those aged 39 and under,

35% of those aged over 50, and 19% of those aged over 60.

Reflecting a lower portion as respondents were older.

Questionnaire for educators (Q.13)

What are barriers encountered when you teach environmental issues in class or school

activities? (Multiple answers allowed)

The most common answers were:

-"Difficulty in securing time to offer lessons on environmental issues" (42.9%)

"Inability to prepare appropriate teaching material or programs" (27.9%)

"Difficulty to manage the curriculum" (27.7%)

For Japanese