LocationsPeoples' Climate Vote 2024
80 percent of people globally want stronger climate action by governments
June 20, 2024
New York, 20 June – The biggest ever standalone public opinion survey on climate change, the Peoples’
Climate Vote 2024, (link available 20th June) shows 80 percent – or four out of five - people globally want
their governments to take stronger action to tackle the climate crisis.
Even more - 86 percent - want to see their countries set aside geopolitical differences and work together on
climate change. The scale of consensus is especially striking in the current global context of increased
conflict and the rise of nationalism.
More than 75,000 people speaking 87 different languages across 77 countries were asked 15 questions on
climate change for the survey, which was conducted for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) with the
University of Oxford, UK and GeoPoll. The questions were designed to help understand how people are
experiencing the impacts of climate change and how they want world leaders to respond. The 77 countries
polled represent 87 percent of the global population.
“The Peoples’ Climate Vote is loud and clear. Global citizens want their leaders to transcend their differences, to act now and to act boldly to fight the climate crisis.”UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner
“The survey results – unprecedented in their coverage – reveal a level of consensus that is truly astonishing.
We urge leaders and policymakers to take note, especially as countries develop their next round of climate
action pledges – or ‘nationally determined contributions’ under the Paris Agreement. This is an issue that
almost everyone, everywhere, can agree on.”
Biggest emitters support stronger climate action
The survey revealed support for stronger climate action in 20 of the world’s biggest greenhouse gas
emitters, with majorities ranging from 66 percent of people in the United States and Russia, to 67 percent in
Germany, 73 percent in China, 77 percent in South Africa and India, 85 percent in Brazil, 88 percent in Iran
and up to 93 percent in Italy.
In five big emitters (Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United States), women were more in favour
of strengthening their country’s commitments by 10 to 17 percentage points. This gap was biggest in
Germany, where women were 17 percentage points more likely than men to want more climate action (75
percent vs. 58 percent.)
Fossil fuel phaseout
Aside from a broad call for bolder climate action, the survey shows support by a global majority of 72
percent in favour of a quick transition away from fossil fuels. This is true for countries among the top 10
biggest producers of oil, coal, or gas, including majorities of 89 percent in Nigeria and Türkiye, 80 percent in
China, 76 percent in Germany, 75 percent of people in Saudi Arabia, 69 percent in Australia, and 54 percent
of people in the United States.
Only 7 percent of people globally said their country should not transition at all.
Climate anxiety
People across the world reported that climate change was on their minds. Globally, 56 percent said they
were thinking about it regularly, i.e. daily or weekly, including some 63 percent of those in Least Developed
Countries (LDCs).
More than half of people globally said they were more worried than last year about climate change (53
percent). The corresponding figure was higher for those in LDCs (59 percent). On average across the nine
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) surveyed, as much as 71 percent said they were more worried than
last year about climate change.
69 percent of people globally said their big decisions like where to live or work were being impacted by
climate change. The proportion so affected was higher in LDCs (74 percent), but notably lower in Western
and Northern Europe (52 percent) and Northern America (42 percent).
Prof. Stephen Fisher, Department of Sociology, University of Oxford, said: “A survey of this size was a huge
scientific endeavour. While maintaining rigorous methodology, special efforts were also made to include
people from marginalised groups in the poorest parts of the world. This is some of the very highest quality
global data on public opinions on climate change available.”
Cassie Flynn, Global Director of Climate Change, UNDP, said: “As world leaders decide on the next round of
pledges under the Paris Agreement by 2025, these results are undeniable evidence that people everywhere
support bold climate action. The Peoples’ Climate Vote has enlisted the voices of people everywhere –
including amongst groups traditionally the most difficult to poll. For example, people in nine of the 77
countries surveyed had never before been polled on climate change. The next two years stand as one of the
best chances we have as the international community to ensure that warming stays under 1.5°. We stand
ready to support policymakers in stepping up their efforts as they develop their climate action plans
through our Climate Promise initiative."
UNDP’s Climate Promise initiative has seen over 100 developing countries submit enhanced NDCs during
the second revision cycle – of which 91 percent raised their targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and 93 percent also strengthened adaptation goals.
For more information:
Karma Jamtsho, Programme Communications & Advocacy Analyst, UNDP Bhutan | Email: karma.jamtsho1@undp.org
