A new nationally representative survey released by the Carbon Business Council shows that a majority of adults in Japan support carbon dioxide removal (CDR) as a tool that can help the country reach its climate goals. 

The survey, conducted in May 2026 in partnership with Bellwether Research and Japan’s leading market research firm Intage, included 1,061 adults across Japan.

This effort comes as the country gears up to introduce its GX-ETS emissions trading system, expected to move from voluntary to mandatory participation this year. 

Under this system, Japan’s largest emitters will be required to measure, report, and offset a share of their emissions, including through CDR credits.  

According to the survey results, four in five adults (81%) consider climate change a serious or very serious issue, and two-thirds of respondents have never heard of a net zero target, while 58% of adults are unfamiliar with GX-ETS.

The assessment found that while adults demonstrate a high climate concern, awareness is currently low.  In that regard, 81% understand climate change as a serious problem, but only 5% say they fully or mostly understand what a net zero target means. The awareness of CDR and related policy mechanisms intended to address climate issues also remains limited. 

Only 12% of Japanese adults say they fully or mostly understand CDR, 67% have never heard of a net zero target, and 58% have never heard of GX-ETS. When given a description of Japan’s net zero commitment, a majority expressed support.

Relevant:  Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp Invests In Deep Sky To Support DAC And CDR In Japan

56% of respondents are in favor of investment in technologies that remove CO2 from the atmosphere, and 70% of adults in Japan support capturing carbon directly from industrial sources. 

Who should lead on carbon removal in Japan?

When asked about who should take charge of carbon removal, the Japanese public answered that it wants shared leadership, with 57% saying the government and the private sector should lead on CDR together, and only 6% stating that the private sector should do it alone.

From the collected responses, intergenerational fairness to future generations surfaced as the most persuasive case for CDR investment, outweighing arguments centered on economic competitiveness or global leadership.

This survey builds on the Carbon Business Council’s broader mobilization efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, in collaboration with regional experts like Emerald Climate. The full memo of findings can be accessed here. 

Read more: Japan’s ASUENE Lands $87M Investment From BlackRock-Temasek Joint Venture