A global survey of 75,000 people revealed that 80% of participants want their governments’ climate action commitments to be stronger. The poll, conducted by the United Nations Development Program, GeoPoll, and Oxford University, asked 15 questions in telephone calls to residents of 77 countries representing 87% of the global population.
According to the survey, 89% of poorer countries favored increasing efforts to curb global emission, while 76% of wealthy G20 nations supported tougher climate action.
The two biggest greenhouse emitters in the world were less enthusiastic: Chinese participants were 73% in favor of stronger action and Americans were 66% in favor of greater efforts to combat global warming.
Other demographic differences included that in the big emitting countries of Canada, France, Germany, Australia, and the U.S., women were 10 to 17% more in support of stronger climate action than men.
Overall, only 7% of those polled globally thought their government should not transition away from fossil fuels at all. More than half of those polled said that they were more worried about climate change this year than last year. A worldwide majority of 72% support a fast fossil fuel phaseout, including those in nations that are among the top ten coal, oil, and gas producers.
As is the case across the board with respect to climate issues, the more influential factor continues to be economic as opposed to scientific or humanitarian. Those who stand to lose the most money from the transition away from fossil fuels continue to hold sway over those who will lose in many other ways.
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Four Out of Five People Want Increased Climate Action, UN Poll Says
Photo, posted July 31, 2020, courtesy of School Strike 4 Climate via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio
