The vast majority of people express profound concern about the state of the environment, according to a groundbreaking global opinion poll.
Around seven in ten people who took part in an online survey earlier this year concurred that human activities have pushed the planet beyond “tipping points” – where natural systems cannot recover – such as the destruction of the Amazon rainforest or the collapse of coral reefs. A large proportion of respondents agreed that the world needs to significantly reduce its carbon emissions over the next decade.
Only about 60% of respondents disagreed that technological advancements alone could effectively address environmental concerns.
Researchers conducted a poll among two groups of “financial thinkers” and scientists, known as Earth4All and the International Commons Alliance, gathering opinions from individuals across 22 countries, including those from low-, mid-, and high-income nations. The survey aimed to gauge the public’s perception of societal transformations and planetary stewardship.
New findings, released Thursday, reveal that people from diverse backgrounds seem to share concerns about the health of ecosystems and the environmental legacies they will leave behind for future generations.
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While there have been some regional nuances observed throughout. Residents in rapidly growing economies, such as those in Kenya and India, tend to perceive themselves as more vulnerable to environmental and climate-related disruptions, including severe weather events like droughts, floods, and heatwaves. While the majority of respondents exhibited a heightened sense of concern regarding the current state of affairs, with 59 percent categorizing themselves as “very” or “extremely” frightened, another 29 percent expressed at least moderate worry about the natural world’s precarious situation today.
While the majority of people are indeed part of the global population, a more nuanced picture emerged from the Ipsos survey, revealing new insights into this diverse demographic.
According to survey findings, nearly half of respondents reported being either not very or not at all concerned about the threats posed by environmental and climate change issues. The stark disparity between these perceptions highlights a pressing reality: climate change is leaving its mark on every corner of America. As global temperatures rise, hurricanes are increasingly ravaging coastlines, droughts are devastating central American farm regions, and wildfires pose a persistent threat to property values and national air quality. Local weather surprises often catch people off guard, affecting everyday essentials like food – think chocolates and olive oil – and household staples.
While many individuals tend to believe that they are not responsible for addressing global environmental concerns. Only around 15 percent of American respondents attributed blame to both high- and middle-income individuals for their shared responsibility in addressing climate change and environmental degradation. As substitutes, they primarily hold accountable companies and governments from affluent nations.
Only about half of respondents felt emotionally invested in addressing global environmental issues related to sports, according to Geoff Dabelko, an expert in environmental policy and safety at Ohio University.
To translate abstract concerns about setting into concrete actions, people must first be able to put themselves in a scenario where something is genuinely at risk. “It’s disconcerting that people are failing to recognize this critical link.”
While fossil fuel companies often justify their industry’s environmental impact by framing it as an individual responsibility issue, the reality is that systemic changes are necessary to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change. Some individuals possess a limited number of.
The top 10 percent of global earners bear significant responsibility for nearly 90 percent of worldwide carbon emissions, concomitant ecological devastation, and ensuing societal consequences. American consumption of gold and tropical hardwoods such as mahogany and cedar has devastatingly contributed to the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, with further assaults on indigenous communities who fiercely defend their territories against extractive activities.
The United States is one of the world’s wealthiest nations, home to approximately half. One doesn’t need to be a millionaire to fit in with the ranks of the world’s wealthiest individuals. Households with no children whose after-tax income exceeds $60,000 per year, as well as those with three or more individuals who earn above $130,000 in after-tax household income, fall within this demographic.
According to United Nations reports on greenhouse gas emissions, achieving global climate goals requires the richest individuals to reduce their personal carbon footprint by at least 50%. High-income individuals’ emissions footprint is largely a direct result of lifestyle choices such as residing in large homes, frequent flying, opting for private vehicles over public transportation, and indulging in conspicuous consumerism through fast fashion and other luxury goods.
