This article was translated by AI. Please forgive any mistakes.
~Small actions, when accumulated, can have a big impact.~
In Japan, temperatures across the country have been reaching 35 to 40 degrees Celsius almost every day. Air conditioning is indispensable.
Even a one-degree difference in temperature changes how we feel physically.
Twenty years ago, the term “Cool Biz” emerged. During the hot summers, people were encouraged to remove their suits and ties, and the government recommended setting indoor air conditioning to 26–28°C.
This was a measure to combat global warming.
Yet in just twenty years, people have come to excessively pursue the illusion that “cool = safe and comfortable.”
As a result, many are now experiencing health issues. Some are even visiting hospitals for heat-shock symptoms, which normally occur in winter.
Japan has always faced natural disasters such as earthquakes, heavy rain, typhoons causing flooding and landslides, and droughts affecting crops. However, with abnormal weather and wildfires worldwide, it is hard not to feel that the Earth itself is increasingly at risk.
A one-degree difference in temperature not only changes how we feel but also changes the burden on the planet.
Have you ever thought about how lowering the air conditioning by one or two degrees just because it feels more comfortable impacts the Earth?
Last summer, when I went to the United States, one of the things that shocked and saddened me was that huge houses, without exception, were running air conditioning at full blast on a system-wide setting (not adjustable by room) from late May onwards, even when it was still cool outside.
I couldn’t help but wonder at every home I visited:
“How much do they think about the Earth? How much do they understand the impact on our bodies?”
I understand the importance of mold prevention in Japan’s humid climate. Japanese people are very clean and use a lot of plastic in relation to food, which is also a serious environmental problem.
But I want people to understand that acts like “lowering the temperature because I feel hot right now” contribute to raising global temperatures to a level that future generations may not be able to handle.
This isn’t about enduring the heat, nor about living with minimal use of appliances. It’s about asking ourselves: Do we really need to cool the room so much?
When I visited Italy in June and July, it was also close to 40°C. Yet very few cafes, restaurants, shops, or workshops had air conditioning blasting at full power.
Part of this may be due to older buildings where installing AC is difficult. But when I asked people in Italy about air conditioning, I heard things like:
- “It’s hot in summer, so making it artificially cold is strange.”
- “Italians don’t like blasting air conditioning.”
- “Europe doesn’t get this hot, so people aren’t used to extreme cooling.”
Talking with friends living in other parts of Europe, I also learned that eco-consciousness is discussed far more frequently than in Japan or the U.S.
Japan’s humid climate makes it natural to use more plastic and individually wrap items. But it’s worth asking ourselves: Do we really need this plastic? Do we need to wrap it in cling film?
When considering environmental literacy, it’s easy to think, “What I do alone won’t make a difference.”
Compared to American homes, our house is like a doghouse. You might think turning off the air conditioning or raising it by one degree won’t change anything. But every action is intentional.
We should practice valuing what we consider important and encourage others to do the same.
