Wednesday 27 January 2021

Popular With People But Will It Result in Policies From Politicians?

The UN Developmental Programme has surveyed 1.2 million people in 50 countries (omitting large chunks of Africa and Central Asia), assessing their attitudes to the climate crisis and potential actions to counter it (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/27/un-global-climate-poll-peoples-voice-is-clear-they-want-action). The survey revealed there was little disagreement between the generations. 69% of those aged 14-18 and 58% of those over 60, wanted action on the climate emergency (so, it's not just the young who worry about such trifles). Majorities were evident, even in countries that currently use lots of oil and gas, to get their governments to switch to using more renewables (solar and wind energies). The figures were 65% for the US; 76% for Australia and 51% for Russia. Majorities were also evident, that favoured more conservation of trees, even in countries, where forest destruction is rife. The figures were 60% in Brazil and 57% in Indonesia. These majorities on renewables and forest conservation, suggest that people favour changes in the current direction of their own government's policies, to avert the climate crisis. Overall, there is popular, world-wide support from people (around two thirds of the respondents) for many of the actions designed to counter climate change. The only partial solution that failed to get majority support, was the plan to encourage people to move to a plant-based diet (only 30% supported this idea). I suppose it is more difficult to get people to change, what they have to do for themselves? Old habits die hard but 30% is a start.

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