As concern over the devastating impacts of climate change grows, 80% of the world’s population is calling for stronger climate commitments from their governments, according to a global survey released on Thursday.
The survey, conducted over eight months by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the University of Oxford, and polling firm GeoPoll, involved asking 15 questions to over 75,000 people through random telephone calls in 87 languages across 77 countries, representing 87% of the global population.
The findings reveal that an overwhelming majority (80%) of respondents want their leaders to take more aggressive action against global warming. The call is especially strong in poorer nations (89%), but it remains high in G20 countries (76%) and major greenhouse gas emitters such as China (73%) and the United States (66%).
As the signatories of the Paris Agreement must submit new CO2 reduction targets by early 2025, these results “undeniably show that people worldwide support bold climate action,” commented Cassie Flynn, UNDP’s climate chief.
In 62 out of 77 countries, a majority of respondents are in favor of a “rapid” transition away from fossil fuels, including in China (80%) and the United States (54%), though not in Russia (16%).
Support Driven by Fear
“The reality of climate change is at our doorstep, and people are aware,” emphasized Cassie Flynn.
Accordingly, 56% of those surveyed think about climate change regularly, at least weekly or even daily. This percentage is higher among women (57%) than men (55%), and among those over 60 years old (59%), who seem to have caught up with younger generations in recognizing the climate crisis.
More than half (53%) of respondents also report being “more worried than last year” about global warming, while 15% feel less concerned.
Leading this rising climate anxiety are Fiji (80% more worried), Afghanistan (78%), Mexico, and Turkey (77%). At the other end of the spectrum are Saudi Arabia (25% more worried), Russia (34%), the Czech Republic (36%), and China (39%).
Impact on Major Decisions
In this context, 69% of respondents state that climate change already influences their “major decisions,” such as where to live.
However, this concern does not always translate into action. Highlighting the contradictions between concerns on one hand and electoral or consumption choices on the other, UNDP head Achim Steiner pointed out the concept of “misperception”: “I would gladly do more, but others aren’t, so I do nothing.”
Rising Concerns Globally
With climate anxiety on the rise, people across the globe are becoming more aware of the immediate threats posed by climate change. This heightened awareness is driving a demand for urgent and decisive action from governments to mitigate the impacts and protect future generations.
The survey sends a clear message to world leaders: the public is ready for bold climate policies and expects their governments to take the lead in the fight against climate change. This widespread support for ambitious climate action underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for a coordinated global response.