European attitudes to climate change and the environment
A new summary of survey data explores public attitudes towards climate change, levels of concern, willingness to act, and support for climate policies.
The latest report from the Infra4NextGen project includes analysis of data from major cross-national surveys measuring public attitudes towards climate change and the environment.
Written by the academic expert for the Make it Green theme, Wouter Poortinga (Cardiff University), the summary relies on data from the European Social Survey (ESS), European Values Study (EVS), and International Social Survey Programme (ISSP).
The latest data summary in the series once again investigated measures of public opinion by age group and within countries over time.
It also focused on the attitudes of younger Europeans (aged under 35) by gender, education level, and place of living (urban or rural).
The data reveals that, although awareness of climate change is high among young Europeans, levels of concern, perceived responsibility, and support for climate policies vary by gender and education.
Across all age groups, the data summary found that a willingness to pay higher prices and/or taxes to help mitigate the effects of climate change has declined over time.
The summary highlights cross-national differences in attitudes across the European Union (EU) and bordering countries.
Respondents in northern and western European countries tend to show greater environmental concern compared with those located in southern and eastern regions.
Amongst younger people, women tend to express greater worry about climate change, are more likely to view it as dangerous, and are slightly more willing than young men to pay higher prices to protect the environment.
The report states: "Young people with higher education consistently show stronger engagement, greater willingness to make financial sacrifices, and higher participation in climate activism."
There are also differences amongst respondents aged under 35 when it comes to living in rural or urban areas.
Urban residents are more likely to express worry about climate change, perceive it as a serious threat, and feel personally responsible for addressing it.
The report concludes: "The analyses provide an initial evidence base for policymakers, researchers, and civil society actors aiming to strengthen support for climate action across Europe."
The themes of the project are dictated by the NextGenerationEU recovery plan – an €800 billion instrument to help repair the economic and social damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Read the latest data summary: European Attitudes to Climate Change and the Environment
View all Data Summaries
Provided by European Social Survey ERIC
