Climate Action
People Want Bold Climate Action and They Want It Now!
July 18, 2024
In an era marked by escalating climate crises, a new survey conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Oxford, revealed what the world’s population is saying to world leaders: act now and act decisively on climate change.
Here are some other important takeaways from the survey.
The World Wants Action on the Climate Crisis
This survey, The Peoples’ Climate Vote 2024, polled over 73,000 people across 77 countries, has revealed a global citizenry deeply concerned about the escalating impacts of what the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has described as “the era of global boiling.”
The survey’s revelation that a staggering 87% of the global population is represented offers a clear, collective voice on the urgent need for robust climate policies.
Fears About Climate Change are Increasing
It also found that 53% of people worldwide are more worried about climate change compared to 2023, with this figure rising to 59% in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Fiji, Afghanistan, and Mexico, topped the list of countries with the highest percentage of people increasingly worried.
Women were found to be more concerned than men, with 55% expressing growing anxiety over the climate emergency compared to 51% of men.
As extreme weather events continue to make headlines, nearly half (43%) of respondents worldwide reported that these incidents were worse than the previous year. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) were particularly hard hit, with 53% of people indicating a worsening situation.
The Areas Most Concerned
Climate change is on people’s minds, with 56% thinking about it daily or weekly. The regions
most preoccupied with the issue are Latin America and the Caribbean (44%), and Sub-Saharan Africa (40%) and perhaps somewhat surprisingly given their reliance on the fossil fuel industry, the Arab States (47%).
Climate Change is Changing Us
The survey also revealed that for 69% of the global population, climate change is already influencing major life decisions such as where to live and work. This number increases to 74% in LDCs and 80% in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Who Do We Hope Can Sort It Out?
The survey also sheds light on the sectors perceived as most effective in addressing climate change. Governments are identified as the most impactful, followed by big businesses and international organizations, highlighting the pivotal role of policy-making in climate mitigation efforts.
While opinions vary on how well countries are addressing the climate crisis, there is overwhelming support for stronger action. Globally, 80% of people want their nations to strengthen climate commitments, with this demand being most pronounced in LDCs (89%) and the G20 (76%). However, the approval towards the current effort remains low, with only 49% of people believing their countries are addressing climate change effectively, while 25% have said they were doing badly.
People Want to Dump Big Oil
The survey also highlighted a global appetite for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, with 72% of respondents calling for a swift switch to renewable energy. This sentiment was echoed even in fossil fuel producing countries, with a few notable exceptions like Russia and Iraq.
Nature Matters
The report also underscored the importance of nature protection and restoration, with 81% of respondents globally wanting their countries to do “a lot” more in this area. Education was another key theme, with 80% of people calling for an increased focus on climate change in school curricula. This demand was particularly strong in Latin America and the Caribbean (93%) and Sub-Saharan Africa (92%).
Come Together
Despite geopolitical tensions, the survey revealed a strong desire for international cooperation on climate change. Globally, 86% of people want countries to put aside their differences and work together on this shared challenge, with 84% in the G20 echoing this sentiment. There was also high support (79% globally and 91% in LDCs) for wealthy nations to step up financial assistance to poorer countries grappling with the impacts of climate change.
Let’s Get on With It
As world leaders prepare to submit enhanced climate pledges under the Paris Agreement in 2025, this report sends an unambiguous message: the public demands immediate, comprehensive, collaborative and forceful action to confront the climate emergency head-on.
