A majority supports climate action
– but hardly anyone knows it
New global surveys show …
The vast majority of people want stronger climate action, even if that comes with costs. Up to 89% are calling on their governments to take more effective measures against the climate crisis. And 69% of respondents said they were even willing to contribute up to 1% of their income toward this goal.
The problem
There’s just one problem: many people don’t realize that so many others feel the same way.
Often the impression arises that climate action is only a minority concern. This misperception leads to an underestimation of public support and stalls political momentum.
The task
The numbers are clear: support for climate action is extremely high worldwide. The crucial step now is to make this broad majority visible so that politics and society respond accordingly.
Examples
According to the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer, an average of 93% of respondents in 14 countries – including China, India, the US, and Germany – see climate change as a serious and acute threat to our planet.”
According to a study published by the OECD in April 2025, 82% of respondents in industrialized countries and as many as 88% in emerging economies such as China and India said their governments should take decisive action against climate change.
A study published in Nature Climate Change in 2024 with almost 130,000 participants – representative of over 90% of the world’s population – shows that 89% are demanding more climate protection from their governments. In addition, 69% said they would be willing to contribute 1% of their household income to the fight against the climate crisis. It is noteworthy that this willingness is significantly stronger in poorer countries than in the wealthiest countries.
In the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Peoples‘ Climate Vote, an average of 80% of the 73,000 respondents in 77 countries said their own country should “step up its efforts to combat climate change.”
And much more
These are just a few examples of numerous studies that have reached the same conclusion: the vast majority of the world’s population is calling for urgent climate protection.
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Sources:
• Edelman Trust Barometer: www.edelman.com/sites/g/files/aatuss191/files/2023-11/2023%20Edelman%20Trust%20Barometer%20Special%20Report%20Trust%20and%20Climate.pdf
• OECD study: www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.20230501
• Study in Nature: www.nature.com/articles/s41558-024-01925-3
Related: https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/news/weltweite-befragung-zeigt-breite-mehrheit-der-weltbevoelkerung-fuer-den-klimaschutz?set_language=en
• People’s Climate Vote (UNDP): peoplesclimate.vote/country-results
• Overview: www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/globalsurveys-show-peoples-growing-concern-about-climate-change
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