Facing Crisis, People Will Change – Survey

In Response to Climate Change, Citizens in Advanced Economies Are Willing To Alter How They Live and Work; Many doubt success of international efforts to reduce global warming

James Bell, Jacob Poushter, Moira Fagan, Christine Huang, September 14, 2021 (Pew Research Center)

“A new Pew Research Center survey in 17 advanced economies spanning North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region finds widespread concern about the personal impact of global climate change. Most citizens say they are willing to change how they live and work at least some to combat the effects of global warming, [and 34% are willing to consider “a lot of changes” to daily life] but whether their efforts will make an impact is unclear…

click to enlarge

…[T]he study reveals a growing sense of personal threat from climate change [with 72% having some concern that they will be personally harmed in their lifetimes]...Young adults, who have been at the forefront of some of the most prominent climate change protests in recent years, are more concerned than their older counterparts…Generally, those on the left of the political spectrum are more open than those on the right to taking personal steps…[T]he U.S. response to climate change is generally seen as wanting…China fares substantially worse…[T]he European Union’s response to climate change is viewed favorably by majorities…

click to enlarge

The share who are very concerned climate change will harm them personally at some point during their lives has increased significantly since 2015 in nearly every country where trend data is available…[T]here is widespread sentiment that climate change is already affecting the world around them…Women are more concerned than men that climate change will harm them personally…” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet