Dr. Conca responds to the title question by opining that it depends on where you live. Countries in Europe and the United States agree it’s happening, but don’t really believe it will dramatically impact their lives. The rest of the world feels the opposite, especially in the East and the Middle East. Of course, these latter countries are the least able to deal with those changes, and their populations will be more likely to flee to more northern climes. These countries even think climate change will cause another world war.
Most people on Earth are worried about the effects of climate change and that humans are the primary cause. Getting the energy we need to run the world is a major culprit. While renewables have almost no emissions [except for SF6], the area they require, and the materials like steel, is also vast. Nuclear energy takes the least space, has the least emissions, and requires the second-least materials, second only to natural gas.
A recent global survey on the thoughts and feelings of humans, concerning climate change and its effects, was recently released by YouGov, a global public opinion and data company, that has made a science of global online surveying. This particular study is compiled from the answers of 30,000 people in 28 countries and demonstrates significant differences in attitudes between East and West (see series of tabular figures in the article), including:
- Almost 90% of the world believes climate change is real
- 71% of people in India think that human activity is the main reason that the climate is changing
- People in Eastern and Middle Eastern countries are much more likely than those in the West to think that climate change is important
- 38% of Americans think that the climate is changing mainly as a result of human activity, 37% think that the climate is changing partly as a result of human activity, while 9% think the climate is changing but not due to human activity, and only 6% say the climate is not changing at all
- 75% of those from the Philippines say that climate change will significantly impact their life versus just 24% of those in the United States
- Scandinavian countries don’t seem to care very much, which is interesting since they have such a cold climate that global warming will turn theirs into temperate zone climates by the end of this century
- Most people of the world feel that we are still able to avoid the worst effects of climate change although it would need drastic changes soon in how we tackle it
- Most people of the world feel that climate change is likely to destroy the world’s economy, flood cities, cause mass migrations and even cause regional wars. More than half of the world also feels that climate change will cause a new world war, although Europe and the United States think that is less likely.
- Most people on Earth think that climate change is happening and that humanity is the main culprit but it depends on where you live. These results are important politically. Young people are more likely to take climate change seriously. And 42% of the world’s population is under the age of 25. 26% is under the age of 15.
- Young people in the United States voted in record numbers the 2018 election - about 31% of people aged 18 to 29 - a significant increase from 21% in 2014 and the highest level since 1992. Similarly, most people on Earth think that climate change will dramatically impact their lives but again, it depends on where you live.
- Nationally, voters aged 18 to 39 have nearly tripled their early voting rate since 2014. That's increased their share of the early vote by more than three percentage points. The early voting share of voters aged 50 to 64, meanwhile, has fallen by more than 2.5 percentage points. The share of those 65 and older has fallen nearly five points.
- Most people of the world feel that we are still able to avoid the worst effects of climate change although it would need drastic changes soon in how we tackle it. In the wake of last year’s Fourth National Climate Assessment released by the Trump Administration, how this burgeoning voter block views environmental and climate issues will become more and more important as the next decade plays out.
The Assessment outlined how the dire effects of global warming are already here and pose a profound threat to Americans’ well-being, especially to this age group and those even younger. Most people of the world feel that climate change is an existential threat to the world, even possibly causing a new world war, although Europe and the United States think that is less likely. So, if most people on Earth think that climate change is happening, that humanity is the main culprit, that climate change will dramatically impact their lives, and that we are still able to avoid the worst effects of climate change by acting quickly, then why are global carbon emissions still climbing?
Methane: 1) oil and natural gas emission from production facilities and pipelines, and 2) Livestock.
SF6 : 1) emissions from windmills, and 2) from most electrical switchgear.
CO2: 1) natural gas and coal burning power plants
Also see original blog and outstanding graphics.
See original working URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2019/09/17/how-does-everyone-feel-about-climate-change/#77ab616f4051
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