Under a warming climate and urban heat island effects, cooling behaviours are increasingly important for city dwellers. Cooling actions, especially air conditioning, receive increasing scrutiny in social science, as does engagement and communication on behaviours spanning adaptation and mitigation. In response, this paper evaluates the relation between residents’ adaptation and mitigation behaviours around cooling in Fukuoka, Japan, and draws lessons for communication on encouraging adaptation and mitigation actions. A survey distributed to residents in six areas of Fukuoka, Japan, assessed perceptions of global warming and urban heat island effects, frequency of mitigation and adaptation behaviours, use of air conditioning, electricity bills and evaluation of green spaces. We observe a difference between respondents using air conditioning with an energy-saving (i.e. mitigation) focus, versus those using air conditioning with an adaptation (i.e. cooling) focus. We also note residents emphasising mitigation behaviours may use shade in parks or cooling centres as alternative cooling strategies, but that awareness of effective air conditioning use may be lacking. Our findings build on existing literature by reinforcing – in a subtropical context – the need to reconsider practices around air conditioner use; and illustrate the value of a breadth of messages to promote joint mitigation and adaptation actions.

在气候变暖和城市热岛效应的影响下，制冷行为对城市居民越来越重要。降温措施，尤其是空调，在社会科学中受到越来越多的审查，关于适应和缓解行为的参与和交流也越来越受到关注。作为回应，本文评估了日本福冈居民在降温前后的适应与缓解行为之间的关系，并就鼓励适应与缓解行动交流了经验。向日本福冈六个地区的居民分发的一项调查评估了人们对全球变暖和城市热岛效应，缓解和适应行为的频率，空调的使用，电费以及对绿地的评估的看法。我们观察到使用节能（即缓解）重点空调的受访者与使用适应（即制冷）重点空调的受访者之间存在差异。我们还注意到，强调缓解行为的居民可能在公园或冷却中心使用遮阳作为替代冷却策略，但是可能缺乏有效使用空调的意识。我们的发现基于现有文献，通过在亚热带环境中加强对空调使用实践的重新考虑的需求；并说明了各种信息的价值，以促进联合缓解和适应行动。我们还注意到，强调缓解行为的居民可能在公园或冷却中心使用遮阳作为替代冷却策略，但是可能缺乏有效使用空调的意识。我们的发现基于现有文献，通过在亚热带环境中加强对空调使用实践的重新考虑的需求；并说明了各种信息的价值，以促进联合缓解和适应行动。我们还注意到，强调缓解行为的居民可能在公园或冷却中心使用遮阳作为替代冷却策略，但是可能缺乏有效使用空调的意识。我们的发现基于现有文献，通过在亚热带环境中加强对空调使用实践的重新考虑的需求；并说明了各种信息的价值，以促进联合缓解和适应行动。