Oxford University study reveals 80 per cent of people want stronger climate action

Lucy Williams
·4-min read
A majority of people want more done to protect the environment. <i>(Image: RADAR)</i>
A majority of people want more done to protect the environment. (Image: RADAR)

The University of Oxford has helped create the biggest ever survey on climate change and the results show 80 per cent of people want more government action on the environment.

The survey, which was conducted for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) with the University of Oxford and GeoPoll, looked into the views of more than 73,000 people across 87 languages and 77 countries - which represented 87 per cent of the world population.  

As the biggest ever standalone public opinion survey, the Peoples' Climate Vote 2024, showed a strong majority wanted their governments to take stronger action to tackle climate - and 86 per cent said they wanted to overcome geopolitical differences to do that.

READ MORE: General Election environment promises: What does it mean for Oxford?

Participants were asked 15 questions on climate change for the survey - designed to help understand how people are experiencing the impacts of climate change and how they want world leaders to respond.

Professor Stephen Fisher of Oxford University's Department of Sociology, said: "A survey of this size was a huge scientific endeavour.

"While maintaining rigorous methodology, special efforts were also made to include people from marginalised groups in the poorest parts of the world.

"This is some of the very highest quality global data on public opinions on climate change available."

A large majority want countries to work together. (Image: Peoples' Climate Vote)

The report found that some of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters supported stronger climate action - with majorities ranging from 66 percent of people in the United States and Russia, to 67 per cent in Germany, 73 percent in China, 77 percent in South Africa and India, 85 percent in Brazil, 88 percent in Iran and up to 93 percent in Italy.

In five big emitters - Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United States - women were more in favour of strengthening their country’s commitments by 10 to 17 percentage points.

This gap was biggest in Germany, where women were 17 percentage points more likely than men to want more climate action.

MORE NEWS: Murder-accused seen buying bread and knife before housemate death, jury hears

The survey also showed support by a global majority of 72 per cent in favour of a quick transition away from fossil fuels.

This is true for countries among the top 10 biggest producers of oil, coal, or gas, including majorities of 89 per cent in Nigeria and Turkey, 80 per cent in China, 76 per cent in Germany, 75 per cent of people in Saudi Arabia, 69 percent in Australia, and 54 percent of people in the United States.

Only seven percent of people globally said their country should not transition at all.

The survey found that climate was a regular thought for many people - with 56 per cent globally thinking about it regularly - with more than half more worried that previous years.

More than two thirds of people globally said their big decisions about where to live or work were being impacted by climate change - particularly in the least developed countries more so than in places like North America where only 42 per cent said these life decisions were guided by climate.

We are searching for unsung heroes across Oxford who are contributing to making our world a better place through climate initiatives.

The Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times join forces to announce the launch of the inaugural Oxford Climate Awards which will be hosted at Oxford Town Hall on October 17.

We are proudly supported by LocalIQ, the commercial arm of our wider business, and headline sponsor Oxford City Council.

These are the following categories:

  • Sustainable Small Business of the Year Award

  • Sustainable Medium Business of the Year Award

  • Innovation In Climate Action Award

  • Sustainable Primary School of the Year

  • Sustainable Secondary School of the Year

  • Sustainable Further Education School/College of the Year

  • Biodiversity And Ecology Award

  • Green Building & Design Award

  • Climate Community Group Award

  • Green Transport Award

  • Youth Climate Action Champion

  • Climate Action Champion

Alongside the spotlight on each award, we feature our categories sponsors who we are delighted to have on board and make this amazing event happen.

The closing date for nominations is Sunday, August 11 and entry forms can be found here: www.oxfordmail.co.uk/climate-awards

The awards will culminate in a prestigious black-tie event on October 17, 2024, at the historic Oxford Town Hall.

This elegant evening will honour the outstanding achievements of our nominees and reveal the winners across various categories, celebrating their exceptional contributions to sustainability and climate action.

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