Climate change views: 5 key findings

We dig into attitudes about a range of environmental issues as heatwaves, floods and fires continue to hit countries around the globe.

Mother Earth is screaming, but are we listening?

March 2024 is the 10th month in a row to set a new record for global heat, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service .

Despite heat records falling month after month our latest What Worries the World report finds a mere 17%, on average across 29 countries, think climate change is a top concern for their country and only 8% think threats against the environment is a leading worry.

Sweating the issues

But that doesn't mean people don't want change.

Ipsos' latest polling in partnership with the Plastic Free Foundation and WWF finds very strong support for a range of bans on plastic products, with 90% (on average across 32 countries) agreeing there should be global rules banning chemicals used in plastic that are hazardous to human health and the environment.

Meanwhile, the Ipsos Earth Day 2024 report finds some are confused about which steps will have the most impact on the fight against climate change while others think it's too late to do anything about our warming planet.

Five top takeaways from our new poll:

1. Feeling of responsibility waning. In 2024, 62% (on average across 33 countries) agree "if individuals like me do not act now to combat climate change we will be failing future generations", down from 75% who said the same in 2021. And there's also less belief that businesses and governments will be failing people by not fighting climate change now vs. three years ago.

2. Fatalism among the young. Close to one in three Millennial (32%) and Generation Z (30%) men agree "climate change is beyond our control — it's too late to do anything about it", while 27% of Millennial women and 23% of Gen Z women agree.

3. You made the mess, you clean it up. Almost two in three, 63% on average across 33 countries, think it's right that developed countries (such as Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain and the U.S.), who have contributed the most to the climate emergency by producing the most carbon emissions, should pay more to solve the problem. At the same time, people both in France (37%, +4 percentage points since 2023) and Canada (32%, +4 pp), in particular, are increasingly feeling their country is being asked to sacrifice too much in order to tackle climate change.

4. Clear as mud. The impact of a relatively easy habit, like recycling, is seen by 34% as a top action households can take that will have the most impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions when in reality a more drastic lifestyle choice, like living car-free, would make a much bigger dent in one's carbon footprint.

5. Information is power. It's easy to feel powerless in the face of such a complex issue, but some seem to just want a guiding hand. Just over one in three (37%) say simply having easy access to information on the steps they can take every day would encourage them to take more action on climate change.

For more interesting insights about climate change views, everywhere from Australia to the United States of America, check out the full Ipsos Earth Day 2024 report here: https://www.ipsos.com/en/earth-day-2024-changing-attitudes-and-actions-towards-climate-change