Support for combating global warming falls globally but concerns about effects are on the rise - survey

Concern about the impact of climate change is rising, while fewer people feel individual action is needed to combat the problem, according to a survey in 32 countries on public attitudes to planetary heating.  

Some 74 percent of around 24,000 people surveyed by market research company Ipsos said they were concerned about the impacts of climate change in their countries. Eighteen out of 27 countries showed increased worry compared to 2022, when Ipsos last asked the question. Concern was higher in countries at greater climate risk, including Turkey and the Philippines.  

At the same time, fewer people agreed with the statement "if individuals like me do not act now to combat climate change, we will be failing future generations." The proportion of those agreeing with the question fell since 2021, when Ipsos first asked it. G7 countries such as Japan, the US and Germany saw double-digit declines. Some 53 percent of Germans saw themselves as having individual responsibility in this regard, compared to 69 percent in 2021, according to the study published yearly for Earth Day.  

Support for climate protection also fell significantly in all countries surveyed since 2021 and most strongly in the world's most advanced economies, including Germany. When asked whether Germany should do more in the fight against climate change, some 41 percent agreed, compared to 55 percent two years ago. This puts Germany, once seen as a climate action frontrunner, in last place out of the 32 countries surveyed.  In much of Europe, including a majority of those surveyed in Germany, people are concerned the transition away from fossil fuels to renewables will increase energy prices.

Polls in the past years generally showed that climate change has become a key concern for a majority of people across the globe. However, views about personal impacts or on how to tackle the global challenge differ widely. Some call for more ambition, others criticise that their country is asked too much. In Germany, calls for more ambitious climate action have been drowned out by concerns about other challenges in the past years, particularly regarding economic stability and security policy. However, the German public already for several years has put climate action high up on its list of policy priorities and support for the transition to a low-carbon generally remains strong.