This report describes self-reported public exposure to and preparedness for extreme weather disasters among Facebook users in 73 countries, territories, and geographic groups (hereafter referred to as “areas”) that are classified as “low-emissions” based on both their below-average per-capita CO2 emissions and low per-capita income. Because of their lower incomes and their geographic locations, these countries are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and less responsible for producing the emissions that cause climate change. Overall, these 73 areas represent 150 countries and territories. The survey was developed by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, Data for Good at Meta, and Rare’s Center for Behavior & the Environment, and was fielded by Meta from August 3 – September 3, 2023. Among the key findings at the global level:
Extreme Weather and Climate Change
- Experiences of extreme weather: Majorities in all countries and territories reported experiencing an extreme weather event. Respondents in Puerto Rico and Uruguay (both 98%), as well as Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and El Salvador (all 96%) were the most likely to say they had experienced at least one extreme weather event. Respondents in Congo DRC (80%), Yemen (78%), and Angola (76%) were the least likely to say so.
- Experiences of long periods of unusually hot weather: Respondents in nearly all areas were more likely to say they had recently experienced long periods of unusually hot weather than other hazards. Respondents reported experiencing unusually hot weather the most often in 62 out of 73 areas.
- Experiences of different types of extreme weather: Respondents in Uzbekistan (77%), El Salvador (69%), and Puerto Rico (68%) were the most likely to say they had most recently experienced long periods of unusually hot weather. Respondents in Uruguay (70%) were the most likely to say they had most recently experienced drought. Respondents in Serbia (57%) were the most likely to say they had most recently experienced severe weather. Floods, wildfires, and rising sea levels were also noted by respondents around the world, but to a lesser extent.
- Attribution of extreme weather to climate change: After selecting the hazard they had experienced most recently, respondents were then asked how much they thought climate change contributed to that hazard. Most respondents both experienced a hazard and said that climate change contributed either “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” to it.
Preparedness for Extreme Weather
- Individual and household preparedness: Respondents in Taiwan (76%), El Salvador (72%), and Azerbaijan (71%) are the most likely to say they and anyone else in their household are either “not that prepared” or “not at all prepared” for extreme weather. In contrast, respondents in Laos (24%), Cambodia (18%), and Vietnam (15%) are the least likely to say they are unprepared.
- Perceived preparedness of others: Respondents in Panama (84%), El Salvador (81%), and Turkey (81%) are the most likely to say the people closest to them are not prepared for extreme weather. In contrast, respondents in Laos (44%), Thailand (43%), and Vietnam (33%) are the least likely to say so.
- Perceived expectations of preparedness: Respondents in Romania (62%), Puerto Rico and Vietnam (both 60%), and the Philippines (57%) are the most likely to say the people closest to them think that the respondents themselves should be prepared for extreme weather. In contrast, respondents in Turkey (27%), Azerbaijan (24%), Armenia (22%), Albania (21%), and Taiwan (18%) are least likely to say so.
Extreme Weather Recovery and Support
- Recovering from an extreme weather event: Respondents in Uzbekistan (59%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (56%), and Bulgaria (55%) are the most likely to say it would take a year or more for their household to recover from an extreme weather event. In contrast, respondents in Thailand (22%), Benin (16%), and Indonesia (15%) are the least likely to say so.
- Social support in the event of extreme weather: Respondents in Morocco and Lebanon (both 44%), and Pakistan (42%) are the most likely to say they have no relatives or friends who they could count on for help after an extreme weather event. In contrast, respondents in Panama and Puerto Rico (both 12%), and Mozambique (11%) are the least likely to say so.
Correction: A new version of the PDF of the report, with updated maps on p. 10, was inserted on March 26, 2024 at 3:30 pm U.S. Eastern Time (19:30 GMT).