Because there are people around the world who do not think climate change is happening, or caused by human activity, it begs the question as to what surveys show. There are MANY out there, as a google search will indicate. For starters, here are some highlights from an International Public Opinion survey, conducted in 2022 at the Yale School of the Environment:
The survey collected responses from 108,946 Facebook monthly active users (18+). Responses were collected from 192 countries and territories worldwide, including 107 individual countries and territories and 3 geographic groups comprising 81 additional countries and territories (for a total of 110 “areas included in the reporting), as well as 4 additional territories that are reported with France or the United Kingdom. Interview dates:
March 25 – April 14, 2022. The Yale research team was supported by the MacArthur Foundation and the 11th Hour Project.
Climate Change Knowledge, Beliefs, and Engagement:
● Knowledge about climate change: Respondents in Finland (92%) and Hungary (90%) are the most likely to say they know “a lot” or “a moderate amount” about climate change. In contrast, respondents in Benin (34%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Haiti (all32%) are the most likely to say they have “never heard of” climate change.
● Climate change is happening: Respondents in Hungary (96%), Portugal (95%), and Costa Rica (94%) are the most likely to think climate change is happening, while respondents in Laos(67%), Haiti (67%), and Bangladesh (70%) are the least likely.
● Climate change is human-caused: Respondents in Spain (65%), Sweden (61%), and Taiwan(60%) are the most likely to think that climate change is mostly caused by human activities, while respondents in Indonesia (18%) and Yemen (21%) are the least likely.
● Hearing about climate change in daily life: Respondents in Sweden and Germany (both 66%)are most likely to say that they hear about climate change in their daily life at least once a week, while respondents in Yemen (7%), Algeria, and Cambodia (both 9%) are least likely.
Excerpted for the
United States from page 33:
83% believe climate change is happening
11% do not believe climate change is happening
6% don't know if climate change is happening
Excerpted for the
United States from page 39:
42% it's caused mostly by human activities
35% it's caused about equally by human activities and natural causes
15% it's caused by natural changes in the environment
5% no cause, because climate change isn't happening
3% no response
_________
Two-thirds of Americans say the United States should prioritize developing renewable energy sources over expanding the production of fossil fuels.
www.pewresearch.org