According to Climate Survey recently conducted by the European investment bank (EIB), only 10% of Chinese people and 19% of Europeans say they are making radical lifestyle changes to fight climate change, while as many as 27% of Americans say so.
Europeans would find it easier to give up flying to fight climate change (40%, compared to 43% in China and 38% in the United States) than to stop eating meat, buying new clothes, owning a car or using video streaming services. However, 39% of Europeans and 38% of Americans say that giving up their car would be the most difficult option. 72% of Europeans believe their own behaviour can make a difference in tackling climate change. 75% of Americans, 71% of Chinese people and 67% of Europeans say they are currently less likely to use public transport because of health concerns.
The Survey explores people’s attitudes and views on climate change in Europe, USA and China, how they intend to fight it in 2021, what they are willing to give up to tackle the climate crisis and how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting their travel habits and intentions to fight climate change. Once travel restrictions related to COVID-19 are lifted, 37% of Chinese people, 22% of Europeans and 22% of Americans say they will avoid flying because of climate change concerns. 42% of Europeans say they would take their holidays in their own country or a nearby country to minimise carbon emissions. 29% of Europeans (compared to 29% of Chinese people and 35% of Americans) say they will resume travelling by plane as they did before the pandemic.
A majority of respondents (79% of Chinese people, 67% of Americans and 58% of Europeans) say they are more concerned about catching COVID-19 than they are about the long-term impact of climate change. However, they still believe their behaviour can contribute to tackling climate change, especially younger respondents compared to older ones in Europe and in the United States, while this gap is not observed in China.
EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle stated: “The post-COVID-19 period will provide an opportunity to take a quantum leap in the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. A green recovery could help us accelerate the significant cut in greenhouse gas emissions that is needed by 2030. People around the world are conscious that their individual behaviour can make a difference. As the EU climate bank, our role at the EIB is to accelerate this green transition through the financing of clean energy, sustainable mobility solutions and innovations that will enable people to change their habits in order to fight climate change.”
Explore the results for all 30 countries surveyed on this link: www.eib.org/en/surveys/climate-survey/3rd-climate-survey/what-to-give-up-for-climate-change
About the EIB Climate Survey
The European Investment Bank has launched the third edition of the EIB Climate Survey, a thorough assessment of how people feel about climate change. Conducted in partnership with market research firm BVA, the third edition of the EIB Climate Survey aims to inform the broader debate on attitudes and expectations in terms of climate action. More than 30 000 respondents participated in the survey between 5 October and 2 November 2020, with a representative panel for each of the 30 countries surveyed.