international public opinion on climate change 2022

The report presents survey data from 108,946 Facebook users worldwide, revealing high global levels of worry and belief that climate change is happening, though perceptions of its causes and the responsibility for action vary significantly by region. While there is widespread support for renewable energy and the belief that climate action will not harm economic growth, willingness to engage in organized climate activism remains low in most regions, with a notable exception in Sub-Saharan Africa.

• While a vast majority of respondents globally believe climate change is occurring, knowledge levels and beliefs about its causes vary. Respondents in Finland (92%) and Hungary (90%) are most likely to report knowing a moderate to large amount, whereas those in Benin (34%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Haiti (all 32%) are most likely to have never heard of it. Regarding causality, majorities in 108 of 110 areas believe human activities are at least partially responsible, but only 26 areas have a majority who believe it is mostly caused by humans, with the highest agreement in Spain (65%), Sweden (61%), and Taiwan (60%).
• Worry about climate change is widespread, with majorities in 108 of 110 areas expressing concern. The highest levels of worry are found in Mexico (95%), Portugal (93%), and Chile (93%), while the lowest are in Yemen (32%) and Jordan (48%). Most respondents (76 of 110 areas) believe climate change will harm future generations 'a great deal,' but far fewer (17 of 110 areas) believe it will harm them personally 'a great deal,' with the highest personal risk perceived in Malawi (62%) and Chile (61%).
• Perceptions of responsibility for reducing climate pollution are split across three main entities. In 42 areas, the government is seen as most responsible (e.g., Romania, Uzbekistan, and Lebanon at 50%); in another 42 areas, individual people are seen as most responsible (e.g., El Salvador at 52%); and in 25 areas, businesses are viewed as most responsible (e.g., Germany and Mexico at 43%). Despite these differences, 104 of 110 areas believe climate change should be a high or very high government priority.
• There is strong global support for the economic viability of climate action and the transition to renewable energy. Majorities in 109 of 110 areas believe that reducing climate change will either improve economic growth and jobs or have no effect. Additionally, 109 of 110 areas support increasing the use of renewable energy, with the highest support in Hungary (91%), Portugal (89%), and Spain (89%).
• Support for reducing fossil fuel use is less uniform than support for renewables. Majorities in 41 of 110 areas support decreasing fossil fuel use, led by Denmark (79%), the UK (72%), and Sweden (72%). Conversely, 13 areas have majorities who believe their country should increase fossil fuel use, including Ghana (58%) and Mozambique (57%), although these same populations also support increasing renewable energy.
• Willingness to join organized climate activism is generally low, with majorities in only 20 of 108 surveyed areas expressing a definite willingness to join such groups. This trend is most pronounced in Sub-Saharan Africa, where majorities in 12 of 17 areas would join, including Zambia (75%) and Malawi (74%). In contrast, no surveyed areas in Europe, North America, or South America had a majority willing to join an organized group.

APA

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (2022). international public opinion on climate change 2022. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2023/07/international-public-opinion-on-climate-change-2022b.pdf

Chicago

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. international public opinion on climate change 2022. 2022. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2023/07/international-public-opinion-on-climate-change-2022b.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Yale Program on Climate Change Communication |title=international public opinion on climate change 2022 |date=2022 |url=https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2023/07/international-public-opinion-on-climate-change-2022b.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaleprogramonclimatechangecommunication2022international, author = {{Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{international public opinion on climate change 2022}}, institution = {Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}, year = {2022}, url = {https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2023/07/international-public-opinion-on-climate-change-2022b.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }