By Karim Hammam
A new YouGov survey across six European countries reveals that while large majorities believe human-driven climate change is real and want urgent action, they oppose measures that would significantly affect their own lifestyles.
Majorities Believe in Human-Made Climate Change
The poll of Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK found that between 69% (Germany) and 80% (France) of respondents accept the climate is changing due to human activity. Only 1% to 4% deny climate change entirely, while 14% to 20% believe it is changing but not because of humans.
Concern Spiked During Summer Heatwaves
Worry about the climate crisis ranges from 65% to 83% across the nations, with 23% to 42% saying they are "very worried." In France, concern rose from 74% in April to 83% by mid-August after severe wildfires, and the share "very worried" hit a record 42%. Germany saw a similar spike in August but has since dipped back to 31% very concerned. Denmark remained relatively stable at 66%-69% worried.
Support for International Cooperation
Between 79% and 89% of respondents said countries would combat the crisis more effectively by working together internationally. A majority in EU nations also favored making climate decisions at the EU level rather than nationally, ranging from 50% in France, Italy and Germany to 64% in Spain.
Popular and Unpopular Climate Measures
Measures that do not directly affect daily life garnered the most support: planting more trees, subsidising energy efficiency, banning single-use plastics and taxing big emitters. Conversely, increasing fuel duty, limiting meat and dairy consumption, taxing air fares and banning new petrol and diesel cars faced opposition. When asked about personal actions, respondents favoured cheap and easy steps such as creating green space at home and eating seasonal produce, but rejected shopping exclusively secondhand or paying more for flights.
