Britons buck global backslide on belief humans contribute to climate change

In an Ipsos poll conducted across 12 countries, it was found that the percentage of people who believe that human activities contribute to climate change has fallen by 8 points since 2014 to 75%. The UK is broadly similar to 2014 with a small increase to 81%.

A majority of the global population say they are likely to make changes to their personal behaviour over the next year to help combat climate change, however, across most behaviours, this has not changed substantially since Ipsos last conducted this survey six years ago.

Globally the most popular behavioural change that people state they are likely to make is avoiding products which have a lot of packaging (55%) with Britons ahead on this at 59%. However, in most other measures, Britons are around or below the global average with no other potential behavioural change reaching 50%.

Across all 12 countries there is very little change in terms of changes to actions individuals plan to take over the next year. Britons were least likely in the next year to eat fewer dairy products with just less than a quarter planning this change in the next year, while slightly over a third are planning on eating less meat.

Kelly Beaver, MD Public Affairs Ipsos said:

It’s incredibly disappointing that globally we’ve seen a slide backwards in the belief that humans contribute to climate change. This alongside the less than 50% of Britons who are likely to make changes to their individual actions over the next year, apart from on buying products with less packaging shows the need for governments and businesses to work in partnership with the public to achieve sustained changes to both attitudes and behaviours.

Technical note

• 2020 Results are based on a sample size of approximately 1000+ individuals per country, with the exception of Poland, Russia, and South Africa, where each have a sample approximately 500+. The precision of Ipsos online polls are calculated using a credibility interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.1 percentage points and of 500 accurate to +/- 4.5 percentage points. For more information on the Ipsos use of credibility intervals, please visit the Ipsos website.
• 7 of the 12 countries surveyed online in 2020 generate nationally representative samples in their countries (France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Poland, United States). Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa produce a national sample that is more urban & educated, and with higher incomes than their fellow citizens. They are not nationally representative of their country.
• Data are weighted to the profile of the population.
• Where results do not sum to 100%, this may be due to computer rounding, multiple responses, or the exclusion of “don’t know” categories.
• 2014 results are based on a 12 country online study, conducted via the Ipsos Online Panel system on behalf of Chatham House and Glasgow University, between 26th September and 10th October 2014. Total base: 12,135 online adults aged 18-65 across 12 countries. The countries reporting herein are Brazil, China, France, United Kingdom, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Poland, Russia, South Africa and the United States of America.
• NOTE: The sample in 2014 includes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.