Climate change impacts
Hospitalizations from heat illness have notably increased in the last few years, creating a significant health issue. The Japan Meteorological Agency's high-temperature warning and the Ministry of the Environment's heat stress index (WBGT) were used to notify the public of associated hazards. Because high number of hospitalizations and fatalities from heat illness are still observed, how relevant information is disseminated and how it can be turned into effective preventive action are important questions.
Adaptation activity
The Ministry of the Environment and the Japan Meteorological Agency started to operate a nationwide "Heat Stroke Alert” (see Note 1). In order to help reduce cases of heat illness, the Ministry of the Environment and the Nature Innovation Group Co., Ltd. have been working together since fiscal year 2020 to provide free parasols (can be used as both a rain umbrella and a parasol) for days when heat stroke alerts are announced (Fig. 1). The scheme was run in the Kantō Kōshin region (Tokyo, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, and Nagano Prefectures) in the summer of 2020. For fiscal year 2021, parasols were available between July 20 (Tuesday) and October 27 (Wednesday) for days when a heat stroke alert was announced in any prefectures (see Note 3) where the Nature Innovation Group's free umbrella service (“aikasa”) is available (Fig. 2) (see Note 2). The Ministry of the Environment is also working with ALiNK Internet, Inc. and using its weather application (www.tenki.jp) to advertise the service (Fig. 3).
Outputs / Expected benefits
By offering access to free parasols on days when heat stroke alerts are in effect, it is expected that parasol usage will increase and people will be able to take independent action to avoid heat stroke. In addition, by including information on the service with the weather application (www.tenki.jp), which receives 4.7 billion page views a year, it is expected that the scheme will become more popular. This rental umbrella and parasol services include solutions for disposable umbrellas, contributing to the reduction of plastic waste.
Footnote
（Note 1）The heat stroke alert system was launched in the Kanto Koshin region in FY2020, and then nationwide in FY2021.
（Note 2）Aikasa https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000119.000036740.html
（Note 3）Areas where parasols are available: Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, Ibaraki, Aichi, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Okayama, and Fukuoka prefectures.
