60% of Citizens Support Government Action on Climate

John Elkington

December 8, 2009

In the midst of the global recession, GlobeScan’s new 23-country survey of public attitudes to climate change found that over 60 percent support their governments making investments to address the climate challenge even if these investments hurt the economy. And majorities in almost half the countries polled want their government to “play a leading role in setting ambitious targets to address climate change” at Copenhagen. Especially in Europe, Canada and Australia.

Public concern about climate change is at its highest level since GlobeScan began international tracking in 1998. Nearly two thirds of those polled now say climate change is a “very serious” problem. However, concern has fallen in China and the USA. On the eve of the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, only six per cent of the 24,000 people polled want their government to oppose a climate deal being reached in Denmark.

However, the poll finds that public opinion in the world’s two largest emitters of CO2 is more ambivalent. While the Chinese are the most likely to support government investments to address climate change even if these harm the economy (with 89% in favour), only 52% of Americans feel the same way. Also, the percentage of American (45%) and Chinese citizens (57%) who see climate change as “very serious” is below the 23-country average of 64%.

Majorities in major European nations support their government playing a strong leadership role in Copenhagen—62% in the UK, 57% in France, and 55% in Germany. Other governments being pressed by their citizens to show leadership include Canada (61%), Australia (57%), Japan (57%), and Brazil (53%).

In comparison, Chinese opinion about Copenhagen favours a “moderate approach” involving “only gradual action” (49%) over a “leadership approach” (37%). In the United States, 36% favour a “moderate approach” and 14% oppose any agreement, outweighing the 46% of Americans who want their government to show leadership.

The results are drawn from a survey of 24,071 adult citizens in 23 countries, conducted by the international polling firm GlobeScan between 19 June and 13 October, 2009. For more information, see http://www.globescan.com/news_archives/bbc2009_climate_change/