This page was created for the participants in one of our Climate Conversations. Responses are edited for clarity and anonymity. These response represent the personal feelings and opinion of participants around that topic. These are not intended to be used as a source of factual information, they are not fact-checked and there may be errors and inaccuracies.
We looked at the results of a global survey that was reported in The Guardian, and elsewhere, which demonstrated that a majority of people want climate action. The 89% Project says:
The overwhelming majority of the world’s people — between 80 and 89%, according to recent science — want governments to take stronger action. But that fact is not reflected in our news coverage, which helps explain why the 89% don’t know that they are the global majority.
The survey:
- Interviewed nearly 130,000 people and included 125 countries.
- The survey found that 69% of people globally would be prepared to contribute 1% of their income to fight climate change.
- 86 % of people who took part in the survey were in favour of pro-climate social norms.
- 89% of those surveyed wanted intensified political action.
The researchers also identified a ‘perception gap’. When asked what percentage of fellow citizens would be prepared to contribute, they underestimated how many people would be prepared to contribute.
Possible causes of the perception gap:
- The media disproportionately covers climate-sceptic views.
- Campaigns by interest groups.
- People assume that a lack of visible progress on climate action reflects a lack of popular support for it.
The problem with the pessimism gap:
- Causes pessimism.
- Pessimism deters people from acting, and the lack of action then supports the belief that people won’t act.
- Other research shows that people’s willingness to contribute depends on other people cooperating too.
What’s your reaction to learning about this?
“I have a question about the method. How were people chosen to take part? If it was self-selection, that would affect the results”.
“I was surprised to find the number is as high as 89%”.
“130,000 divided by 125 countries equals a small number of people from each country”.
“It’s impressive they included so many countries”.
“We need a proper global approach”.
“It can be quite hard to feel part of a bigger group at all”.
“I don’t feel like I’m part of a majority on climate in my everyday life”.
“The climate movement is separated into smaller groups. It’s fractured”.
“It would help if we (people who care about the climate) had a fundamental shared belief”.
“The climate movement is lacking a structure and hierarchy to hold it all together – but not being hierarchical is also good. We don’t want to control people”.
“If it is a mass movement, does it matter if there is a tiny minority of deniers?”.
“We need to go around bursting bubbles”.
“Greta Thunberg was really successful in getting a lot of awareness on the issue. Do we need another message now?”.
What can we do in our everyday lives to help close the perception gap?
“Make it fun. Events don’t have to be heavy on the message”.
“With social movements, the change can happen without you noticing at the time. There’s some fight back at the time, but when you look back, you wonder how it happened”.
“Me too changed the culture in my workplace.”
Heatwaves are reported in newspapers as if they’re a good thing when they’re not. We could complain in letters or on social media. We can make our stories personal. Excess deaths are happening because of the heatwaves in the UK”
“It’s a dilemma. I don’t want to be the harbinger of doom. I’m ambivalent. I have mixed feelings. Maybe it’s useful to be honest about that.”
“It’s hard not to be pessimistic. I feel like it’s all ending. Life as we know it is ending. I feel grief, but I ignore it too. “
“I suppress my grief. I don’t know how to grieve in these circumstances. And I’m worried if I start, I won’t be able to stop.”
“But also, why would I want it to stay like this? There are lots of problems with our way of life.”
“It’s hard to see other people carrying on as if it’s okay. What do you say to them? It helps to be around other people who are doing something. It helps to be doing something myself.”
“Telling stories about people making changes and enjoying themselves doing it might be a good idea. Like the woman I met who was travelling abroad by train in her seventies.”
“Share the groups we’re in.”
“Invite speakers from other groups to our groups, so we can see what each other are doing.”
What do you think or feel at the end of today’s conversation?
“A little bit more energised.”
“There are people doing meaningful stuff.”
“Maybe I do need to deliberately focus on the good people sometimes.”
“Ask for advice.”