This report describes climate change beliefs, attitudes, policy preferences, and behaviors among Facebook users in 110 countries, territories, and geographic groups (hereafter referred to as “areas”). Overall, these 110 areas represent 192 countries and territories worldwide. The survey was fielded in partnership with Data for Good at Meta from March 25 – April 14, 2022. Among the key findings at the global level:
Climate Change Knowledge, Beliefs, and Engagement
- Knowledge about climate change: Respondents in Finland (92%) and Hungary (90%) are the most likely to say they know “a lot” or “a moderate amount” about climate change. In contrast, respondents in Benin (34%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Haiti (all 32%) are the most likely to say they have “never heard of” climate change.
- Climate change is happening: Respondents in Hungary (96%), Portugal (95%), and Costa Rica (94%) are the most likely to think climate change is happening, while respondents in Laos (67%), Haiti (67%), and Bangladesh (70%) are the least likely.
- Climate change is human-caused: Respondents in Spain (65%), Sweden (61%), and Taiwan (60%) are the most likely to think that climate change is mostly caused by human activities, while respondents in Indonesia (18%) and Yemen (21%) are the least likely.
- Hearing about climate change in daily life: Respondents in Sweden and Germany (both 66%) are most likely to say that they hear about climate change in their daily life at least once a week, while respondents in Yemen (7%), Algeria, and Cambodia (both 9%) are least likely.
Worry and Perceived Risks Regarding Climate Change
- Worry about climate change: Respondents in Mexico (95%), Portugal, and Chile (both 93%) are the most likely to say they are either “very worried” or “somewhat worried” about climate change, while respondents from Yemen (32%) and Jordan (48%) are the least likely.
- Climate change will harm future generations: Respondents in Mexico (83%), Chile, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica (all 80%) are the most likely to say that climate change will harm future generations “a great deal,” while respondents in Yemen (23%) are the least likely to say so.
- Climate change will be personally harmful: Respondents are the most likely to say that climate change will harm them personally “a great deal” in Malawi (62%) and Chile (61%), and the least likely to say so in Czechia (3%) and Norway (5%).
- Personal importance of climate change: Respondents in Angola and Zambia (both 86%) are the most likely to say that climate change is either “extremely” or “very” important to them personally, while respondents in Czechia and Yemen (both 26%) are the least likely to say so.
- Climate change is a threat in the next 20 years: Respondents in Malawi (93%), Portugal, and Mexico (both 92%) are most likely to think that climate change is either a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” threat to people in their country or territory over the next 20 years, while respondents in Yemen (42%) and Jordan (53%) are least likely to say so.
Responsibility for Action on Climate Change
- Who is responsible for reducing causes of climate change? Respondents in Romania, Uzbekistan, and Lebanon (all 50%) are the most likely to think that the government is most responsible for reducing the pollution that causes climate change. Respondents in El Salvador (52%), Zambia, and Panama (both 49%) are the most likely to think that individual people are most responsible, while respondents in Germany and Mexico (both 43%) are the most likely to say that businesses are most responsible.
- Climate change as a government priority: Respondents in Chile (91%), Mexico, and Puerto Rico (both 88%) are the most likely to say that climate change should be either a “very high” or “high” priority for their government, while respondents in Yemen (36%) and Kosovo (47%) are the least likely to say so.
- National responsibility to reduce climate change: Respondents in Australia and Portugal (both 65%) are the most likely to think that their country or territory should reduce its pollution that causes climate change, regardless of what other countries do. In contrast, respondents in Bangladesh (14%) and Cambodia (15%) are least likely to think so.
Energy and the Economy
- Perceived economic impacts of action to reduce climate change: Respondents in Malawi, Brazil, and Angola (all 77%) are the most likely to think action to reduce climate change will improve economic growth and provide new jobs, or it will have no effect on the economy and jobs. Respondents in Czechia (47%) and Japan (50%) are the least likely to think so.
- Increasing use of renewable energy: Respondents in Hungary (91%), Portugal, and Spain (both 89%) are the most likely to say that their country or territory should either use “much more” or “somewhat more” renewable energy, while respondents in Indonesia (48%) and Tanzania (53%) are the least likely.
- Decreasing use of fossil fuels: Respondents in Denmark (79%), the United Kingdom, and Sweden (both 72%) are the most likely to say that their country or territory should use either “much less” or “somewhat less” fossil fuels, while respondents in Cambodia (12%) and Mozambique (16%) are the least likely.
Climate Activism
- Willingness to join an organized group for climate action: Respondents in Zambia (75%) and Malawi (74%) are the most likely to say that they are currently participating in, or “definitely” would join, an organized group working to convince leaders to take action to reduce climate change. Respondents in Finland (9%) and the Netherlands (10%) are the least likely.