“Global Citizens Demand Stronger Climate Action: Survey Reveals Overwhelming Support for Fossil Fuel Phaseout”

Climate activists gathered at the UNFCCC COP28 Climate Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Dec. 12, 2023, to protest against fossil fuels and advocate for stronger climate commitments from governments worldwide. The protest comes in the wake of a new global survey, the Peoples’ Climate Vote 2024, which revealed that 80 percent of respondents want their governments to take more decisive action on climate change.

Conducted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), GeoPoll, and Oxford University, the survey polled 75,000 people in 77 countries, representing 87 percent of the global population. The results showed overwhelming support for increased efforts to curb global emissions, with 89 percent of respondents from poorer countries and 76 percent from wealthy G20 nations backing tougher climate action.

Notably, the survey found that even in countries with high greenhouse gas emissions, such as China and the United States, a majority of respondents supported more aggressive measures to combat global heating. In Brazil, Iran, and Italy, support for strengthening climate commitments was particularly high, with 85 percent, 88 percent, and 93 percent of respondents, respectively, in favor of bold action.

Women were also shown to be more supportive of stronger climate action in five major emitters, including Canada, France, Germany, Australia, and the U.S. The survey indicated that 72 percent of respondents globally support a fast fossil fuel phaseout, with only seven percent opposing any transition away from fossil fuels.

The survey highlighted the widespread impact of climate change on people’s lives, with 69 percent of respondents indicating that their major life decisions were influenced by the climate crisis. In Least Developed Countries (LDCs), this proportion was even higher at 74 percent. Additionally, 56 percent of respondents reported thinking about climate change on a regular basis, with 53 percent expressing more concern about it this year compared to last year.

Professor Stephen Fisher of the University of Oxford’s Department of Sociology praised the survey as a significant scientific endeavor, noting the inclusion of marginalized groups in the poorest parts of the world. The findings underscore the urgent need for global leaders to heed the call for bold climate action and work towards a sustainable future for all.

As the international community prepares for the next round of climate action pledges under the Paris Agreement, the survey results serve as a powerful reminder of the global consensus on the need for decisive and immediate measures to address the climate crisis. With public support for climate action reaching unprecedented levels, the pressure is on policymakers to deliver on their commitments and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.