Most People See Climate As A ‘Global Emergency’ And Support Urgent Action, UN Survey Finds - Forbes

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Topline

Two thirds of people from around the world believe climate change is a “global emergency” during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new United Nations poll published Wednesday that the agency says provides a “clear and convincing” mandate for politicians to take the urgent action needed to address the crisis alongside the pandemic.

Key Facts

The “People’s Climate Vote,” which was organized by the UN Development Program and the University of Oxford, is the largest ever opinion poll on climate change, questioning some 1.2 million people across 50 countries, many of them young.

Some 69% of 14 to 18-year-olds said climate change is a global emergency, slightly higher than the 58% of over-60s who said the same.

Half of all people surveyed said governments should implement four key policies to tackle the climate crisis: conservation of forests and land; solar wind and renewable power; climate-friendly farming techniques; and investing more in green businesses and jobs..

There was even broad support for renewable energy in nations where fossil fuels are a major source of emissions, including the U.S. (65%) and Russia (51%).

Cassie Flynn, the head of the UNDP’s Climate Promise initiative, told Al Jazeera that there is an opportunity for the world to address the climate crisis as it recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This is a moment that we need that ambition,” Flynn said, adding that “the decisions about our future are being locked in now.”

Crucial Quote

“We can do something that would open up opportunity and not only recover from Covid but also address the climate issue,” Flynn said. “People must have enough credibility to have a virtual seat at the table in rooms where decisions are being made.”

Key Background

Marches and protests led by children and teens who have walked out of classrooms — often spearheaded by now well-known figures like Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate — demanding action on climate change have highlighted young peoples’ attitudes to climate change. This poll shows that the generational gap is not as large as many had thought. The Biden administration’s support for green energy and government action to address climate change saw the new president sign an executive order to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord after Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the landmark agreement, something Republicans have objected to by misleadingly claiming it will cost Americans jobs.