Changing perceptions over climate change

‘More and more people now believe climate change to be a result of human activities’

To take a peek at the pertinent issue of climate change, BBC World News and Synovate, an international market research company, conducted a comprehensive survey across 22 markets on six continents.

The areas covered in the second global opinion “2008-Survey” include levels of concern among the public, what people are doing about climate change and who they believe was responsible for the drastic climate change taking place worldwide. This year’s results show that respondents’ attitude towards climate change has shifted since the survey was conducted last year. This is especially apparent in the US where levels of concern have jumped dramatically from 57 per cent in 2007 to 80 per cent this year.

Announcing the key findings of the survey, Jeremy Nye, Head of Audience Insight at BBC World News, says the results reflected what their viewers have been telling them about global warming: “In nearly all markets, citizens believe it is up to ordinary people to change their behaviour; the way in which global issues and personal behaviour are intertwined explains the increasing relevance of international news.”

Greater concern

Pointing out that the survey conducted in 2007 saw high levels of concern about climate change across the globe, Steve Garton, Executive Director, Media at Synovate, says “After a year of unprecedented media attention, it seems that extra focus has had an impact. More people than ever are concerned. And more people than ever are doing something about it. There’s a real ‘it’s up to me’ sense of responsibility.”

The survey finds out that the concern over climate change is translating through many facets of consumer behaviour.

Compared with 68 per cent in 2007, this year 72 per cent of respondents sounded concerned about climate change with the inhabitants of Spain and Brazil at the top of the survey, appearing most worried at 88 per cent and 86 per cent respectively.

Countries showing an increase in the level of concern about the issue from last year are India, Russia, the US, Denmark, France, Poland and Britain.

Of those who blame one country as responsible for climate change on Earth, the respondents listed the US (down to 61 per cent from 66 per cent in 2007) and China (up to 18 per cent from 14 per cent in 2007).

Interestingly, the majority of respondents in the US still nominated their own country as the most responsible for climate change.

An overall 47 per cent believe that the main factors causing climate change are human causes and pollution, recognising that we are to blame and should accept responsibility.

Over the past year, in an attempt to reduce the effects of climate change, participants have saved power, recycled waste, reduced water consumption, reduced the use of packaging and bags, bought green products and energy-efficient devices.