The study, which polled over 75,000 people in 77 countries, offers a revealing snapshot of public sentiment on one of the world’s most pressing issues.
A comprehensive United Nations survey has uncovered widespread concern about climate change and strong support for government action across the globe. The study, which polled over 75,000 people in 77 countries, offers a revealing snapshot of public sentiment on one of the world’s most pressing issues.
Cassie Flynn, climate lead for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), described the results as “undeniable evidence that people everywhere support bold climate action.”
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The survey, dubbed the Peoples’ Climate Vote 2024, was conducted in collaboration with the University of Oxford and GeoPoll. Its findings challenge several common assumptions about climate attitudes:
1. Climate Concern Transcends Wealth Divides
Contrary to the notion that climate change is a “luxury” concern of the privileged, the survey found that citizens of less developed countries think about climate change more frequently than those in wealthier nations. In Uganda, nearly two-thirds of respondents reported thinking about climate change daily, compared to less than one-third in the United States, Japan, China, France, or the United Kingdom.
Ugandan climate activist Hamira Kobusingye explained, “In Uganda, you have to be extremely wealthy to say you’re not affected by the climate crisis.”
2. Saudi Confidence Amid Global Skepticism
While most respondents were lukewarm about their countries’ climate efforts, Saudi Arabians stood out for their optimism. Almost two-thirds of Saudis believe their country is doing “very well” in addressing climate change, far above the global average of less than one-fifth.
3. Russian Resistance to Energy Transition
Globally, 71% of people support a quick or very quick transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. However, this sentiment is notably weaker in Russia, a major oil and gas producer. The United States, despite being the world’s largest oil and gas producer, shows a stark divide, with equal portions advocating for a very quick transition or no transition at all.
4. Wealth and Climate Vulnerability
The survey revealed that citizens of wealthy, temperate nations like the United States, Germany, and Japan feel less vulnerable to extreme weather than those in poorer, hotter countries such as Benin, Ecuador, and Haiti. Nearly four-fifths of global respondents want more protection from extreme weather events.
5. Support for Climate Aid to Developing Nations
Surprisingly, even in wealthy countries, there’s substantial support for increased climate aid to poorer nations. The United States stands out as the country with the largest minority opposing such aid, aligning with its historically low contributions to international climate finance relative to its size and emissions.
Iskander Erzini Vernoit, co-founder of the Morocco-based Imal Initiative think-tank, argued that these findings undermine excuses for inadequate climate finance from wealthy nations: “This further demonstrates that there is no leg to stand on for those hiding behind so-called political realism to justify a failure to confront the staggeringly low fiscal ambition from rich countries to support poorer countries with new grant-equivalent climate finance.”
As world leaders grapple with climate policy decisions, this survey provides a clear mandate: people worldwide are increasingly concerned about climate change and expect robust action from their governments.
Full Report: Download the full report here.
Lead image courtesy of Vinh Dao
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