Cancún, Mexico – Most of the attendees gathered at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Cancún, Mexico, say that there will not be a genuine international action on climate change without strong support from society and consider that the public generally does not understand the meaning of “climate change”. These are the results of a survey conducted this week by the Government of Mexico and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.
Over 500 attendees from around the world accredited to COP16/CMP6 – including government delegates, representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), experts, journalists and business leaders – participated in a survey on attitudes towards climate change, held swiftly using electronic tablets (IPAD). The results were presented today at the Forum on Climate Change Communication, an event sponsored by the Government of Mexico and the Pew Center, which was held at the Hotel Grand Velas Riviera Maya.
“Effective communication is one of the keys to promoting a strong effort on climate change,” said Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) of Mexico.
The survey included similar numbers of participants from developed and developing countries. Almost all (94%) agreed that “there can never be a real action on climate change in the field of international governance without the strong support of the general public”.
When asked what the user community should be more involved in this issue, participants rated the “general public” in the first place, up from heads of state, businesses, NGOs and United Nations organizations.
Still, 58% said that the general public either barely understands the issue of “climate change” or does not understand at all. Only 5% felt that the public understands “very well”.
“These findings highlight the tremendous gap that exists between the critical need for action and the limited knowledge of the public on issues that concern us,” said Eileen Claussen, President Pew Center. “All of us – governments, experts, advocates and business leaders – we must do a better job explaining to the public the risks and opportunities presented by climate change,” said Eileen Claussen.
The survey also found mixed views on the role of media. Participants rated media such as television, newspapers and magazines as the most effective means to communicate to the general public the need for global action. However, when asked to identify “the most trusted voices in the scale and global impact of climate change”, only 24% named the media. A strong majority (87%) blamed the media and opinion leaders for the lack of understanding of the public about the science of climate change.
Despite recent controversies over climate change, most of the participants (66%) identified scientists among the most trusted voices, well above organizations such as the United Nations (42%), NGOs (41%), governments (24%) and business leaders (13%).
Additional Key Findings of the Survey
We are running out of time.
- When it comes to the impact that mankind is causing on climate change, COP16 attendees say they are suffering from some irreversible impacts.
- The majority (56%) believe that the planet has already been irreversibly damaged.
- More than half (54%) say that we are stuck in our efforts to limit human influences on climate change.
- Eight of ten participants (83%) of the conference believe that only those countries undertake ambitious efforts to address climate change which are suffering the real consequences of such changes.
- Almost nine out of ten (88%) agree that if we do not address the issue of climate change now, it will become, eventually, a trigger for global conflict and possibly war.
The economic impact is perceived as one of the main barriers to greater participation.
- Nine out of ten participants (90%) agree that global recession has made countries less willing to invest in climate change, while more than half (54%) say they strongly agree with this assessment.
- COP16 attendees reported that the main barriers that prevent the governments to take effective joint action on climate change are lack of willingness to risk industrial growth (64%) and take political risks in their countries (63%).
- This feeling was found to be more prominent in developed countries than in developing countries.
We need more action by stakeholders.
- The vast majority of participants (94%) at the conference agree that climate change initiatives will be effective only with the strong support of governments, companies, NGOs, scientists and the general public, while seven of ten (70%) strongly agree with this statement.
- Participants of the conference report that there must be significantly greater involvement on all sides, particularly the general public (84%), local community leaders (83%), and national leaders (83%).
- Participants from developing countries believe that there should be greater involvement of environmental NGOs, global organizations (UN, World Bank, WHO) in climate change initiatives and developed countries.
The key to effective change –
- Most conference participants believed that the most convincing to the need to address climate change are the stories of human sufferings due to extreme weather such as droughts or floods (65%) and evidence that climate change will have a negative impact on the economy (54%).
About the Survey
In a joint effort, the Government of Mexico and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change gathered the views and attitudes of those attending the COP16 on worldwide climate change. The study involved 503 participants who completed the survey via digital tablets and paper between 27 and 30 November 2010.
Participants who responded to the survey were either NGO representatives, government delegates, business leaders, bloggers, experts in the field of climate change and representatives of expert groups or think tanks to assist the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico. The survey only included participants accredited to COP16.
About the Pew Center on Global Climate Change
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change based in the United States brings together business leaders, those responsible for making policy decisions, scientists and other experts to bring a new approach to a complex and often controversial subject. Their approach is based on sound science, they tell it like it is with the belief that we can work together to protect the climate while sustaining economic growth.
The Pew Center has issued over 100 reports produced by top researchers on key climate issues such as economic and environmental impacts, as well as domestic and international practical solutions for the past ten years. The Pew Center plays an active role in bringing people together to discuss policy frameworks and workable solutions for climate change. For more information, visit www.pewclimate.org.
Source: COP16 Press Release dated December 3, 2010.
