A UN Development Programme (UNDP) survey, questioning 1.2 million people in 50 countries, found that two-thirds of people consider the climate crisis a “global emergency.” The “Peoples’ Climate Vote” was the biggest ever opinion poll on climate change, revealing that people worldwide support climate action.
Majorities still backed the measure even if the action requires significant changes in their country. The results present politicians with a clear mandate to take the concrete action needed.
Cassie Flynn is the UNDP’s strategic adviser on climate change and head of the organization’s Climate Promise program that helps countries boldly execute climate action. She said:
The voice of the people is clear – they want action on climate change. If 64% of the world’s people believe in a climate emergency, it helps governments respond to the climate crisis as an emergency. The key message is that, as governments are making these high-stakes decisions, the people are with them.
We are at a fork in the road, and the poll says ‘this is how your future generations are thinking, in specific policy choices’ – it brings a way to envision the future.
Flynn was the one who came up with the idea to distribute the poll via advertisements in video games and puzzles, including Sudoku, Subway Surfers, Angry Birds, and Words With Friends. The idea came to her while riding on the subway in New York City:
I looked around, and everyone was on their phones, and most were playing games.
The UNDP ran the survey in 50 high-, middle- and low-income countries, representing over half the world’s people. The data was collected last year, from October to December. Oxford University experts weighted the replies to reflect the population of each country.
Oxford University Professor Stephen Fisher said:
The Peoples’ Climate Vote has delivered a treasure trove of data on public opinion that we’ve never seen before. Recognition of the climate emergency is much more widespread than previously thought.
There wasn’t a significant generational divide regarding what age group showed the greatest concern. Young people aged 14-18 showed the greatest consideration, with 69% saying there’s a climate emergency. However, 58% of people over 60 thought so too.
More people in Italy and the UK say there’s a climate emergency (81%) than anywhere else in the world. Australia followed with 72% and then the US and Russia with 65%. The lowest proportion was in Moldova, but even there it was 50%.
People strongly supported renewable energy in countries where fossil fuels are a significant source of emissions. Among these were Australia (76% in favor), the US (65%), and Russia (51%).
Similarly, people strongly supported the conservation of forests where deforestation is a significant cause of emissions. Among these were Brazil (60% in favor) and Indonesia (57%).
Protecting and restoring forests was the most popular of the 18 policies to tackle the climate crisis, followed by renewable electricity and climate-friendly farming. Least popular was the promotion of plant-based diets, with only 30% support.
The UNDP speculates that the relatively low support for plant-based diets could be because people feel that diet is a personal choice or the country has few plant-based food options. The countries most supportive of plant-based diets were Germany (44%) and UK (43%).
Overall, 59% of the people said the world should “do everything necessary and urgently” in response to the climate emergency.
The survey helps to connect the people’s climate concerns with governments at just the right time. The UN climate summit will take place this November, and accelerated action must be agreed upon. Furthermore, the climate crisis continues to escalate as last year held the record for highest global temperatures on record.
