Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan
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Your environmental type diagnosis!

You sense the feelings of nature and people and share them with care. Your words can move hearts.

You translate environmental topics into familiar and easy-to-understand words. When issues feel complicated or distant, people may find it hard to act. As the Translator type, you break down ideas so they match each person’s perspective and are easier to understand and act on.

  • Feel
  • Perspective
  • Collabo- ration

A family is having dinner while watching the news on television. The TV says, “Start small — little by little. Let’s work together as a society to save electricity.” The older sister sighs and says, “Easy to say…” She continues, “Honestly, it doesn’t really click. It just sounds like ‘put up with the heat,’ right?” The boy agrees. “Yeah… when people say ‘save energy,’ it just sounds like ‘deal with it.’” Their father joins the conversation. “We learned this in science the other day. Cold air sinks.” “Apparently, most of the cool air from the air conditioner just sinks to the bottom.” He continues, “So if you use a circulator to keep the air moving, you can still feel cool even with the temperature set a little higher.” “Since circulators use less energy, using both can help save energy overall.” “Then let’s use the circulator from the laundry room in the living room.” The boy responds, “It’s just been sitting there anyway.” The boy thinks for a moment and says, “Maybe I can look for ways to save energy without having to tough it out.” “If there’s a way to save energy without overdoing it, that’s something we can actually keep doing.” The mother smiles. “That’s great.” At the end of the comic, a message appears: “Change your words, change your world.”

In responding to the three global crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, there is a growing worldwide need to build socio-economic systems that integrate measures such as net-zero, nature-positive, and a circular economy. In Japan, the Basic Environment Plan has been formulated in order to promote policies for environmental conservation across the entire government in a comprehensive and systematic manner.

The Sixth Basic Environment Plan, approved by the Cabinet in May 2024, puts “the quality of life, level of happiness, well-being and economic welfare of each person present and in the future” (hereinafter referred to as “well-being/quality of life”) as its top objective, and also positions this as contributing to “the welfare of humankind.”

“Well-being/quality of life” consists of both market value and non-market value, and includes subjective well-being such as self-affirmation, representing true “affluence” in modern society. This plan is based on a strong sense of urgency regarding the three crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Decarbonization (Carbon Neutrality): Net Zero

To address climate change, a global challenge, we aim to achieve carbon neutrality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero overall. Achieving net zero requires both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving and enhancing natural absorption processes.

Nature Positive

By halting and reversing biodiversity loss to place nature on a path to recovery, this approach goes beyond simply protecting nature. It seeks to transform society and the economy as a whole so that they contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and related goals.

Circular Economy

To build a circular society, it is essential to shift away from a one-way, linear economic model based on mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal. Instead, we must promote a circular economy that uses resources efficiently and sustainably, circulating them within the system.

Actions best suited for the Translator

  • Decarbonization

    You explain energy use and CO₂ through familiar examples from daily life.

  • Nature Positive

    You share changes in nature and its importance through experiences and stories that are easy to understand.

  • Circular Economy

    You connect resource circulation and systems to everyday actions and choices.

The Translator's Role

The Translator’s strength is bringing people closer to environmental action. By turning “That sounds difficult” or “I don’t understand” into “I see” and “I can do that,” you create the first step toward action.

Environmental Types
About the Sixth Basic Environment Plan (PDF)
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