Many people around the world are concerned about climate change and are willing to alter their lives and work practices.

A new survey by Pew Research Center in 17 advanced economies across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region found widespread concern about the personal effects of global climate change. While most citizens are open to changing their lifestyles and working to reduce global warming, it is not clear if this will have an impact on their lives.

Citizens offer mixed reviews on how their societies have responded, and many question whether international efforts to stop climate change are effective.

This was done before the start of the summer season. Wildfires, Drought, Floods Storms that are stronger than usualThe study shows that many people feel more concerned about climate change. In Germany, for instance, the share that is “very concerned” about the personal ramifications of global warming has increased 19 percentage points since 2015 (from 18% to 37%).

Only Japan (-8 points) experienced a significant decline of citizens concerned about climate change in the study. In the United States, attitudes have not changed significantly since 2015.

Young adults have been at the forefront in some of the most important issues. Climate change protestsIn recent years, older people are more concerned about the personal effects of a warming planet on many publics than their younger counterparts. The largest age gap is in Sweden where 65% of 18-to-29-year-olds are at minimum somewhat concerned about the effects of climate change on their lives, compared to 25% for those 65 years and older. Also, there are significant age differences in New Zealand and Australia, the U.S.A, France, Canada, and Canada.

There is public concern about climate change, but also a willingness to take personal steps to reduce its effects. Majorities of those surveyed in the advanced economies agree that they will make some changes in their lives and work to reduce the danger posed by global warming. And across all 17 publics polled, a median of 34% are willing to consider “a lot of changes” to daily life as a response to climate change.

People on the left are generally more open than those on right to taking personal steps towards reducing the impacts of climate change. This is especially true in the U.S. where citizens who identify as ideological left are twice as likely as those who identify as ideological right (94% vs. 45%) to change their lives and work for this reason. Canada, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands are some other countries where people on the left and right disagree about whether to change their lives and work to address global warming.

The study also reveals mixed opinions about the wider, collective response of society to climate change. Half of the 17 polled publics believe their society has done a good or better job in dealing with global climate change. But only in Singapore (32%), Sweden (14%), Germany (14%), New Zealand (14%) and the United Kingdom (13%) do more than one-in-ten describe such efforts as “very good.” Meanwhile, fewer than half in Japan (49%), Italy (48%), the U.S. (47%), South Korea (46%) and Taiwan (45%) give their society’s climate response favorable marks.

The U.S. response is generally viewed as lacking abroad. Among the 16 other advanced economies surveyed, only Singaporeans are slightly positive in their assessment of American efforts (53% say the U.S. is doing a “good job” of addressing climate change). Elsewhere judgments are harsher, with six-in-ten or more across Australia, New Zealand and many of the European publics polled saying the U.S. is doing a “bad job” of dealing with global warming. However, China fares substantially worse in terms of international public opinion: A median of 78% across 17 publics describe China’s handling of climate change as “bad,” including 45% who describe the Chinese response as “very bad.” That compares with a cumulative median of 61% who judge the American response as “bad.”

At the cross-national level, the European Union’s response to climate change is viewed favorably by majorities in each of the advanced economies surveyed, except Germany where opinion is split (49% good job; 47% bad job). However, there is still room for improvement, as only a median of 7% across the publics polled describe the EU’s efforts as “very good.” The United Nations’ actions to address global warming are also generally seen in a favorable light: A median of 56% say the multilateral organization is doing a good job. But again, the reviews are tempered, with just 5% describing the UN’s response to climate change as “very good.”

Public opinion in advanced economies is divided over whether the international community can successfully reduce global warming’s effects. Overall, 52% of respondents doubt that a multilateral response will succeed. 46%, however, remain confident that nations can address the effects of climate change through cooperation. France (60%), Sweden (61%), and France (60%) are the most skeptical of multilateral efforts, while South Korea (68% and Singapore (66%) are more optimistic.

These are some of the findings from a new Pew Research Center poll, which was conducted among 18,850 adults in 17 advanced countries, between February 1, 2021 and May 26, 2021.

People who are concerned about climate change will suffer in their lifetimes

Many people in 17 advanced economies are concerned about how global climate change will affect them personally. 72% of respondents express at least some concern about the possibility of being personally affected by climate change during their lifetimes. That compares with 19% and 11%, who say they are not concerned or not at any point. The percentage of people who say they are VeryConcerns about climate change affecting them personally range from 15% in Sweden to 57% for Greece.

About two-thirds (or roughly) of Canadians and six in ten Americans worry that climate change could cause major damage to their lives. Only 12% and 17% respectively of Americans and Canadians are at all concerned about the impact of global warming on their lives.

Europe’s publics express varying degrees concern about climate change. At least three quarters of people in France, Spain, Italy and Germany are concerned that climate change could cause them harm at some point in their lives. Only in Sweden, do less than half of adults express concern that climate change will harm them. 56% of Swedes don’t worry about climate change causing personal harm.

Asia-Pacific publics are more concerned about climate change causing them harm than not. These concerns range from 64% in Australia, to 88% in South Korea. Around one-third of South Korea, Singapore, and Australia say they are concerned. VeryConcerned about climate change will directly harm them.

The share of those who are VeryIn almost all countries where trend data is available, the percentage of people who feel that climate change will cause them harm at some point in their lives has increased dramatically since 2015. For example, Germany has a high percentage of those who say they are. VeryConcerned has increased by 19 percentage points in the last six years. Double-digit increases are also seen in Australia (+16), South Korea (13), and Spain (+10). Japan (-8 points) is the only place where public concern has decreased significantly about the dangers of climate change since 2015.

Many people worry that climate change will cause them harm in the future. However, there is widespread consensus that climate change is already affecting the environment around them. In Surveys by Pew Research CenterIn 2019, and 2020, a median 70% of 20 publics surveyed stated that climate change is affecting their lives in some way or another. Majorities in all countries included in the study were also part of the aforementioned. 2018 26-nation surveyGlobal climate change was a major threat to their country, as was the case across all 14 countries. 2020).

People who identify as being on the left side of the ideological spectrum are more likely to be concerned about global climate change in their lifetime than those who identify as being on the right. This pattern is found in all 14 countries where ideology is measured. However, in 10 of these 14 countries, majority ideologies are concerned that climate change will cause personal harm.

The U.S. is the most striking example of this difference: Liberals are 59 percent more likely than Conservatives to express concern for such a possibility (87% vs. 28%). Large ideological differences can also be found in Australia (with liberals 41 percent more likely to say so), Canada (+30), Sweden (+30), and New Zealand (+23).

Many polls show that women are more concerned than men about the possibility of climate change causing harm to them. Germany: Women are 13 points more likely than their male counterparts to be concerned about climate change causing them harm (82% vs. 69% respectively). There are also double-digit differences across a number of publics, including the U.S. and Sweden, the UK. South Korea, Singapore. Taiwan, Australia, Australia, Australia, and the Netherlands.

This question was first posed in 2015Women were also more likely than their male counterparts to express concern about climate change in the U.S.A, Germany, Canada Japan, Spain, Australia and Canada.

Young people have been at this FrontOf Past protestsSeeking government action to combat climate change. Eighteen places were surveyed and found that young adults aged 18-29 are more likely than people 65 and older to worry about climate change in their lifetimes. Sweden, the home of youth climate activists is where the difference is greatest Greta Thunberg. The percentage of young Swedes who are concerned about climate change is 40 points higher than their older counterparts. Also, there are large age gaps in New Zealand (with younger people 31 points more likely than their older counterparts to say this), Australia (+30), and Singapore (+20). Brits, French, Canadians, and young Americans are also more likely than Brits to say that climate changes will personally harm them during their lifetimes.

While large numbers of people in Greece and South Korea are concerned about climate change, the majority of those over 65 are more concerned than those under 30.

Many people are willing to change their lifestyles and work harder to reduce the impact of climate change.

Many of the publics surveyed indicated that they are willing to make changes to their lives and work in order to reduce the impacts of climate change. A median of 80% of 17 publics stated they would make changes to their lives in order to reduce the impacts of climate change. The median of 19% said they would only make small changes. The percentage of people willing to make changes a lotThe range of changes is between 8% in Japan and 62% in Greece.

North America is home to about three-quarters (or more) of both Americans and Canadians who say they are willing make changes to reduce the impacts of climate change.

A large majority of European citizens surveyed said they are willing and able to change their behavior to address climate change. However, only a small percentage said they were willing to do so. a lotThe amount of changes made varies greatly. Half of those in Spain, Italy, and Greece say they would make many changes. Only a third of those in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands agree.

Majorities of Asia-Pacific citizens polled said they would make some, or a lot, changes in their lives and work to combat climate change. This includes more than three-quarters of those in South Korea, Singapore and Australia. Japan has the highest percentage of respondents, 44%, which is more than any other country.

Eight countries surveyed showed that people aged 18-29 are more likely to say they are willing or able to make changes to their lifestyles and to work towards reducing the effects of climate change than those over 65. France is an example of this. Nine-in-ten people under 30 want to make changes to address climate change, while 62% of those aged 65 and older are open to doing so.

The ideological divide is widening in the United States, where those on the left are more likely to say they are willing to make changes to reduce the impact of global climate change. The U.S. has the largest ideological divide. 94% of Americans say they are willing or able to make changes to their lives and work to lessen the effects of climate. Only 45% of conservatives agree. There are large ideological differences between the left and right in Canada (a difference 26 percentage points), Australia (25 points), Australia (23) and Germany (22).

Most publics find that those with more education are more likely to say they are willing and able to adapt their lifestyles to climate change. For example, in Belgium, those with a postsecondary degree are 14 points more likely to say that they are willing to change the way they live. There are also double-digit differences between those with less education in Australia, France, New Zealand, New Zealand, France and New Zealand.

In most cases, people with a higher income than the median are more likely to say they would make some changes to lessen the impact of climate change. For example, in Belgium, around three quarters (76%) of people with a higher income said they would make some changes to their lives, as opposed to 66% who had a lower income.

Many are generally positive about how their society handles climate change.

When asked to reflect on their society’s handling of climate change, the majority of respondents give positive answers. Nearly half of all respondents in most places believe their society does at minimum a decent job. The median of 56% across the 17 advanced economies agrees.

About two-thirds of Canadians (64%) say their country is doing an excellent job. Nearly half of Americans disagree.

In most of the European publics surveyed, majorities believe their nation’s climate change response is at least somewhat good. The UK and Sweden have the most optimistic citizens, with seven in ten believing their society is doing a good deal with climate change. In Europe, Italians are the most critical of their country’s performance: 20% say their society is doing a VeryThe largest percentage of all respondents was for bad jobs

Around eight-in-ten in Singapore and New Zealand say their publics are doing a good job – the highest levels among all societies surveyed. This includes around a quarter (32%) in Singapore, who say they are doing an excellent job. Very good job. Adults in Asia-Pacific are more circumspect. Only half of those surveyed say their society does an excellent job.

Political ideology plays a role in how people evaluate their own public’s handling of climate change. For adults in 10 countries, those on the right tend to rate their country’s performance with regard to climate change more positively. The difference is most stark in Australia: 69% of those on the right say Australia is handling climate change well, compared with just 19% of those on the left – a 50-point difference. The U.S. also shows a striking difference. Conservatives are 41 points more likely to say that the U.S. is doing well in dealing with climate changes than liberals.

Evaluations also depend on how people view governing party parties. In 10 of 17 polled publics, those who view the governing party positively are more likely to believe that climate change is being managed well than those who have a negative view. The U.S. has the opposite. Only 33% of Democrats and Democratic leaning independents think the U.S. handles climate change well, while 61% of those who don’t support the Democratic Party believe it.

A median of 46% of the polled publics are not confident that international actions will significantly reduce the impact of climate change. A median of 52% of those polled are not confident that these actions will significantly reduce the impact of climate change.

Canadians are divided on whether international climate action can lessen the effects of climate change. And 54% of Americans are not confident in the international community’s response to the climate crisis.

Majorities in Germany, the Netherlands and France express confidence that international climate actions can address climate change. Majorities in France, Sweden and Belgium are less confident in international climate action.

South Koreans and Singaporeans are confident in international climate action. However, elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region public opinion is divided or leans towards pessimism regarding international efforts.

The opinion of international organizations like the United Nations is tied to confidence that the international community will significantly reduce global climate change. People who have a positive view about the UN are more certain that the international community will reduce the impact of climate change than those who have an unfavorable opinion. This is evident in the U.S. where 61% have a favorable view about the UN and 22% have an unfavorable. Every poll found double-digit variations.

Similar results were found in every EU member country included in the survey. Those with favorable views of the bloc are more likely than those with less favorable views to be confident in international efforts to combat climate changes.

There is not much consensus on whether international climate actions will harm or benefit the domestic economies.

Only a small percentage of the advanced economies that were surveyed believe that international efforts to combat climate change will benefit or harm their country’s economy. A median of 31% of 17 publics believe these actions will be beneficial for their economy. However, 24% of respondents think that such actions will most harm their economy. A median of 39% believe that actions such as the Paris climate agreement will not have any economic impact.

About half of the people in Sweden (51%) believe international climate actions will mainly benefit their economy. Only 18% of France’s citizens feel that international climate agreements will bring economic benefits to their economy.

No public will say more than a third that international action on the climate change will harm its economy. The U.S. however, is a country that DeletedPresident Donald Trump was a signatory to the Paris climate agreement. However, he has only recently joined the accord with President Joe Biden. (For more on how international publics view Biden’s international policy actions, see “America’s Image Abroad Rebounds With Transition From Trump to Biden.”)

The majority of respondents believe that climate actions will not have an impact on domestic economies. This opinion is held by four-in-ten people in eight countries, half of which are French. And in two places – Japan and Taiwan – one-in-five or more offer no opinion.

Those on the left of the ideological spectrum are more likely than those on the right to say international action to address climate change – such as the Paris Agreement – will mostly benefit their economies. The ideology of respondents in the United States is particularly important. Just 12% of conservatives and 53% of liberals believe that international climate change actions will benefit the U.S. Canada is next with 24 percentage point more liberals than conservatives believing this type of international action would benefit their economy.

The right-leaning publics are more likely than the left to believe that international actions like the Paris Agreement will most benefit them. HarmonizeTheir economies. This is yet another example of ideological divisions in America. 65% say that international climate change action will harm the American economic system, whereas 12% of liberals are the same.

In many advanced economies, those who believe their current economic situation to be good are more likely than those who think it is bad to say that the international community’s actions to address climate change will benefit their economies. For example, in Sweden, 55% of those who believe the current economic situation to be good will also believe that international action such as the Paris Agreement will benefit their economy. 31% are more negative.

Evaluating the response to climate change from the EU and UN.

Respondents were asked to assess the performance of four international countries or organizations in handling global climate change. The European Union received the highest ratings of all entities, with a median 63% among 17 publics surveyed saying that the EU is doing an excellent job in handling climate change. A median of 56% also said the same for United Nations. Far fewer believe the U.S. or China – the two Leading nations in carbon dioxide emissions – are doing a good job.

High marks for EU’s handling of climate change in Europe and beyond

All but two respondents believe the EU is doing an excellent job of addressing climate change. However, this positivity is tempered, with most respondents saying the EU’s effort is EtwasIt’s good, but it’s not universally accepted. Very good.

Praise for the bloc’s response to climate change is common among the European countries surveyed. Around seven in ten people in Spain and Greece say that the EU is doing at minimum a EtwasGood job. About six-in-ten in the UK, Italy and Sweden agree. The Dutch and Germans have mixed feelings about the EU’s response on climate change. Only one-tenth of EU citizens believe the EU is doing a good job. Very Bad There is no job in climate change management in any European country except Sweden, where only 5 % of those surveyed said so.

Seven in ten Canadians believe the EU does a good job of dealing with climate change. Sixty-two percent of Americans share this view.

The Asia-Pacific publics surveyed report similarly positive attitudes on the EU’s climate plans. Around seven-in-ten Australians and Singaporeans consider the EU’s response to climate change at least somewhat good. This sentiment is shared by about six-in-ten people in New Zealand and South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.

The majority of surveyed people view UN’s climate change action positively

Majorities of the public also consider the UN’s response to climate change to have been positive. A median of 49% across all publics surveyed say that the UN’s actions are Etwas Good, with a median of 5 % stating that the actions are Very good.

Canadians evaluate the UN’s performance on climate more positively than Americans do. Six out of ten Canadians believe the UN is doing at most a minimum of a good job. EtwasGood job in dealing with climate change. Nearly half of Americans agree with that assessment. 43% of Americans feel the UN does a poor job of dealing climate change.

Majorities in Europe, including Spain, Sweden and the UK, Greece, Italy and Greece, approve of how UN deals with climate change. This assessment is not shared by more than half of adults in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Only about a third of Germans agree.

Singaporeans stand out as the greatest share of adults among those surveyed who see the UN’s handling of climate change as good. 14% of those surveyed say the UN’s response is excellent. VeryGood, which is about twice the percentage in all other societies surveyed. Similar sentiments can be found in New Zealand and Australia, where majorities agree that the UN is doing a great job.

Many are critical of the U.S. approach towards climate change

The majority of adults surveyed believe the U.S. does a good job in dealing with climate change. A median of 33% believe the U.S. is doing an adequate job. EtwasGood job. Only 3% of Americans believe that the U.S. is doing an adequate job. Very good job.

Half of Americans think their country does a good job dealing with climate change. Six out of ten Canadians believe their southern neighbor is doing worse.

Most Europeans think the U.S. is not doing enough to address climate change. This includes 75% of Swedes and 75% of Germans. Nearly 25% of all European countries surveyed, except for the UK and Greece, believe the U.S. is doing an inadequate job. Very bad job.

The U.S. approach towards climate change is praised by Singaporeans the most in the Asia-Pacific region, and across all polled publics. Around half of respondents say they view the U.S. strategy positively. The most critical people in the Asia-Pacific are New Zealanders. Only 25% say that the U.S. does at least a fair job.

Evaluations of the U.S.’s climate strategy are linked to political ideology. The likelihood that those on either the right or left of the political spectrum believe the U.S. is doing an excellent job in dealing with global climate change is significantly higher than that of those on both sides. The largest differences are in Australia, Canada, and Italy.

Few people give China positive marks in handling climate change.

The majority of the public surveyed is not enthusiastic about China’s response to climate change. A median of 18% in the publics said China is doing an excellent job, compared to a median 78% who said the opposite. Notably, a median 45% of respondents said that China is doing a good job. Very Bad job handling climate change.

Only 18% of Americans, Canadians and others believe China is doing a great job in dealing with climate change.

Similar results can be found in Europe, where few people believe China is effectively dealing with climate change. Nearly all European countries polled believe China is doing a good job. VeryPoor job regarding climate change. Greece is less critical of China’s climate change actions, with three percent giving it positive marks.

The majority of adults in the Asia-Pacific region give China poor ratings when it comes to climate change. South Koreans are extremely critical. About two-thirds of them believe China is doing a good job. Very Bad job is the most common among all publics surveyed. New Zealand, Japan, Australia and Australia agree with this percentage. The majority of Singaporeans believe China is doing an excellent job, almost 20 percentage points higher than those who are next highest.

In nine countries surveyed, those with less education are more positive toward China’s response to climate change than those with more education. Likewise, those with lower incomes are more inclined to provide positive evaluations of China’s climate change response. People with lower incomes or less education are less likely than others to respond in multiple publics.

CORRECTION (Oct. 13, 2021): In the chart “Publics are divided over the economic impact of international actions to address global climate change,” the “Don’t Know” column has been edited to reflect updated percentages to correct for a data tabulation error. These changes did not affect the report’s substantive findings.