This one of the conclusions of the fourth annual survey on the perception of climate change, conducted by research agency Ipsos on behalf of the French renewable energy company EDF.
The study shows that more than two-thirds of the world’s population is concerned about the climate, across all generations. But the cost of living, the coronavirus, poverty and health care are even more of a concern than climate change. Adapting one’s lifestyle by making more sustainable choices in one’s own life is also unpopular. For 69% of the world’s population, tackling climate change is primarily an issue for governments to resolve. And less than half of all consumers think they have to take action themselves, for example by separating waste, buying more seasonal fruit and vegetables and reducing packaging. Not really the most effective measures for battling climate change. When it comes to issues such as eating less meat, reducing car use or making air travel more expensive, support crumbles even further.
According to another recent survey by Ipsos and ING Bank, the low willingness of consumers in The Netherlands to change their own behaviour for the sake of the climate is striking: almost 8 out of 10 people do not want to change their lifestyle. Belgians score only marginally better: 7 out of 10 people do not want to change.
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