Public worldwide wants action on climate change: poll

Yahoo News 7 Dec 09;

LONDON (AFP) – Most people worldwide believe climate change is a very serious problem that their governments must tackle, a poll said Monday, as the landmark Copenhagen summit on the issue was set to get under way.

However the poll of more than 24,000 people also showed concern about rising global temperatures from man-made emissions has dropped in the United States and China -- the world's two biggest polluters.

Sixty-four percent of people think climate change is a "very serious" problem, up from 44 percent of those polled in 1998, according to the GlobeScan survey conducted for Britain's BBC World Service.

"The poll shows strong worldwide support for action on climate change, in spite of the recession," GlobeScan chairman Doug Miller said.

"However, the mixed opinions in the United States and China suggest leadership in Copenhagen may need to come from others," he said.

Despite the global economic downturn, 61 percent worldwide support government investment to address the issue, even if it meant that it harmed their national economy, the poll conducted in 23 countries said.

In the US and China, the largest emitters of carbon dioxide, support for government action is high, with 89 percent in communist China and 52 percent in the US.

But serious concern for the issue in these countries has fallen from 50 percent in the US in 2007 to 45 percent this year, and from 59 percent to 57 percent in China -- both below the worldwide average.

Concern in rising power India is also below average at 45 percent, along with Australia (58 percent), where legislation on a carbon-trading scheme has twice been rejected in parliament.

The poll comes as talks in Copenhagen are set to start Monday, gathering 192 nations under the flag of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Its task is to craft a global pact that will dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions -- invisible gases that trap solar heat and warm the atmosphere, interfering with Earth's delicate climate system.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon voiced optimism Sunday that the crunch talks would lead to binding limits for harmful emissions, but experts warn of major stumbling blocks as countries wrangle over the burden-sharing.

According to the poll, 44 percent of people -- and majorities in 10 of the 23 countries polled -- want their government to "play a leading role in setting ambitious targets to address climate change" in Copenhagen.

Some 39 percent think their government should "adopt a more moderate approach and support only gradual action."

And six percent want their government to oppose any agreement.

Support for government action is relatively high in Europe, including 62 percent in Britain, 57 percent in France and 55 percent in Germany.

Canada (61 percent), Australia, (57 percent), Japan (also 57 percent) and Brazil (53 percent) also favour strong leadership on the issue.

In the US, 46 percent want strong action -- outstripped by people wanting moderate action (36 percent) or opposition to any agreement (14 percent).

The poll of 24,071 people was conducted between June 19 and October 13.

World concerns about climate change dwindle: survey
Reuters 7 Dec 09;

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - World concern about climate change has fallen in the past two years, according to an opinion poll on Sunday, the eve of 190-nation talks in Copenhagen meant to agree a U.N. deal to fight global warming.

Green Business

The Nielsen/Oxford University survey showed that 37 percent of more than 27,000 Internet users in 54 countries said they were "very concerned" about climate change, down from 41 percent in a similar poll two years ago.

"Global concern for climate change cools off," the Nielsen Co. said of the poll, taken in October. It linked the decline to the world economic slowdown.

In the United States, the number two emitter after China and the only industrialized nation outside the U.N.'s existing Kyoto Protocol for curbing emissions, the number of those very concerned fell to 25 percent from 34.

President Barack Obama wants to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, and plans to join more than 100 world leaders in Copenhagen at the end of the December 7-18 meeting to try to reach a new U.N. deal.

China, the top emitter of greenhouse gases, was among few nations surveyed where the number of people very concerned rose, to 36 from 30 percent.

The survey indicated the highest levels of concern were in Latin America and Asian-Pacific countries, topped by the Philippines on 78 percent which was struck by Typhoon Ketsana in September. The poll did not cover most of Africa.

Those least concerned by global warming, blamed on human emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, were mainly in eastern Europe. Estonia was bottom with just 10 percent saying they were very concerned.

Jonathan Banks, Business Insights Director Europe of the Nielsen Co., said that worries about climate change may now be picking up with the focus on Copenhagen.

"Economic woes temporarily knocked the climate change issue off the top line agenda, but as the recession is now beginning to recede, we expect the Copenhagen summit to push this important issue to the front again," he said.

Worldwide, air and water pollution followed by climate change were the top three environmental concerns for the world population, the survey found.

(Editing by Matthew Jones)