Don’t tell me what to do!
Public opinion surveys about climate change make for fascinating reading. One the one hand there is majority support for the idea that humans are the main cause of global warming. But once questions are asked about the actions required to mitigate climate change, the more individual sacrifice required to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions the less support those actions are likely to have.
In 2020 the United Nations Development Programme polled 1.2 million people from 50 countries for the People’s Climate Vote. The survey found that 64% of respondents believed climate change was an emergency (including a majority of all age groups) and the four most popular policies respondents thought governments should enact to address the climate emergency were conservation of forests and land; solar, wind and renewable power; climate-friendly farming techniques; and investing more in green businesses and jobs. Each of these policies had 50 to 54% support.
The People’s Climate Vote asked about high level government interventions. Compare those results with some other surveys done at a national / regional level:
A 2022 survey of over 8,000 adults in the UK found 81% of the respondents believed nature was under threat and that more needed to be done urgently to protect and restore it. 48% said they were willing to take action themselves to reverse the damage, but 42% said they did not feel empowered to do so.
A 2022 poll of 1,053 Americans found 71% of respondents believed climate change was happening, and of those 68% believed humans were entirely or mostly to blame. However only 52% of respondents felt they could personally impact climate change. Respondents were presented with common actions they could take as individuals, and interestingly for a number of actions saving money was a more popular motive than helping the environment, for example reducing the use of heat or air conditioning, driving less, and using energy efficient appliances.
A 2023 survey of over 1,000 people from seven European countries found that large majorities (60-81%) were very or fairly worried about climate change and its effects, but when presented with individual actions the more a measure would change their lifestyle the less they would support it. For example, a commitment to planting more trees in green spaces, government subsidies to make your home more energy efficient, and banning all single-use plastic all received widespread support. However measures like a blanket tax on all air fares, increasing fuel duty, and cutting meat and dairy products out of your diet completely were less well received.
A study from Georgia State University produced the most interesting results of all. They showed over 2,000 participants a statement about climate change, and then for some also included a recommendation about personal or political actions. People who saw the personal action recommendations were less likely to want to do anything to reduce their carbon footprint.
These findings are important to consider when developing policy. Although there is a general acceptance of climate change and concern about its effects, there is less consensus about what action should be taken to address it - particularly by individuals. This could be because individuals simply don’t want to change their lifestyle, or it could be because they don’t see how individual actions can make a difference. It may be that they want to see action from governments and business before making sacrifices of their own.