Ahead of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) and the SPRING GX project of the University of Tokyo conducted a survey among Japanese physicians to gather their opinions regarding climate change and health, sustainable healthcare systems, and climate change policy. The data were collected from November 21-27, 2023 and we received 1,100 responses from physicians practicing throughout Japan.

Key Findings

1. Physicians do not have sufficient knowledge about climate change (36.1% got more than half of the question correct), the term “planetary health” is not widely recognized (18.2%)
2. Many physicians believe that climate change is affecting the health of the Japanese population and more specifically recognizing the impact on the health of the patients they see in their clinic
   • 78.1% of physicians believe that climate change is affecting the health of people in Japan
   • 51.5% of physicians believe that climate change is impacting the health of patients in their field of practice
3. Around 70% of physicians are also aware of the health impacts caused by climate change and believe that over the next 10 years climate change will significantly adversely affect the following health issues
   • Physical harm and/or injury from extreme weather events (e.g., flooding, typhoons, landslides, wildfires) (83.3%)
   • Heat-related illness (79.5%)
   • Arthropod-borne infections (75.8%)
4. There is limited access to education on climate change and health
   • Received education on “climate change and health” or “planetary health” while in medical school (6.5%)
   • Received specialized training on climate change and health (11.6%)
5. More than 70% of the physicians would like to choose products, equipment, etc. that have lower environmental impacts and are more sustainable options, if available
6. More than half of the physicians agree that they should educate and advocate to their patients and their institution/facility
   • Physicians should advise their patients on the links climate change has on their health (56.7%)
   • Physicians should advocate within their institution/facility for implementing mitigation measures for more environmentally sustainable healthcare (57.5%)
7. More than half of the physicians reported that the main barriers that prevent them from taking more action include lack of information and resources (54.4%), lack of knowledge (52.7%), and lack of time (51.7%)