In a world increasingly shaped by climate challenges, the question that looms large is whether the global public stands united in the fight against climate change, or if divisions hinder our progress.
It is an urgent global crisis that knows no borders, affecting lives, ecosystems, and economies worldwide. How we collectively perceive and respond to this crisis is at the core of our planet’s future.
United or Divided on Climate Change?
The issue of climate change impends prominently on the world stage, bringing with it severe weather patterns, disruptions to agriculture, and the menacing spectre of rising sea levels. However, intriguingly, not everyone views this monumental threat through the same lens.
Within the comprehensive framework of the World Risk Poll 2021, the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, in association with Gallup, conducted a sweeping survey involving 125,911 respondents across 121 countries.
This global endeavour posed a fundamental question: Will it pose a threat to their respective nations over the next two decades? The nations were then ranked based on the collective sentiment of respondents regarding the threat level posed by climate change.
Remarkably, 90% of respondents from Northern and Western Europe expressed an unequivocal belief in climate change as a brewing threat. It’s hardly surprising, then, that many of the nations with the highest proportion of individuals viewing it as a pressing concern are nestled within the European continent.
Italy, Switzerland, and Spain are in the vanguard of nations where climate change is undeniably recognized as a substantial threat, with an overwhelming 93-95% of respondents in agreement.
These countries have emerged as beacons of awareness and action in the global fight against it. Within their borders, a strong consensus prevails, highlighting the collective recognition of the immediate and far-reaching consequences of climate change.
On the flip side of the spectrum, the predominant viewpoint among individuals in emerging and non-Western economies is that climate change poses a minimal concern.
This perspective is particularly evident in nations like Myanmar, China, and Indonesia, where the perception of climate change as a non-threat is notably pronounced at around 46%.
A Planet at Risk
While 75% of the global population acknowledges it as a looming threat to their nations within the next decades, nearly 2 billion people across the world remain unconvinced.
The data underscores the significance of education, preparedness, and unity as our most formidable assets in the battle against it.
They are not just assets; they are the indispensable tools that will shape our ability to combat climate change effectively.
They represent the foundations upon which we can build a world that acknowledges the gravity of climate change, is equipped to address it, and stands together in a resolute quest for solutions.
The World Risk Poll 2021, initiated by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, was designed to provide deeper insights into the everyday risks experienced by people worldwide.
It extends beyond climate change and encompasses a broader spectrum of risks that ordinary individuals encounter in their daily lives.
