Most global warming deniers are in the U.S., but even there they are a small minority; many fear severe economic consequences, mass migration and wars
A YouGov survey of 30 countries surveyed by the 11. June to 22. The survey, which was conducted on July 1, makes it clear that a large majority of people in all countries are convinced that climate change is taking place and that it is mainly or at least partly caused by humans. According to the survey, there are hardly any people who say that there is no climate warming, only very few are convinced that there is climate warming, but that it is not caused by humans. The survey was conducted online, and its representativeness is questionable, especially, as YouGov itself notes, in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Egypt, India and Indonesia, where less than 60 percent of the population has Internet access.
One country in particular stands out: In the U.S., 9 percent say climate warming is not anthropogenic and 6 percent deny climate change. That’s more than any other country, even though 75 percent of Americans believe climate warming is at least partly caused by humans, according to the survey. Even in Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sweden and Egypt there are more climate change deniers and those who do not see humans as responsible. But even in Saudi Arabia, 71 percent say climate warming is at least partly caused by humans. In Germany it is 87 percent, in Great Britain 88 percent, in Qatar 93 percent, in India 94 percent, in Italy 95 percent, in Spain 96 percent.
The majority of people believe that the consequences of global warming will affect their personal lives. People from the northern European countries, Germany, Great Britain and the USA see themselves least at risk, people in southern Europe see themselves more at risk, and those from Asia and the Middle East see themselves most at risk.
The majority of people are convinced that climate warming is likely to cause serious economic damage, flooding of cities and wars. Majority in all countries anticipate mass migration. In the West, less than half of the people think that there will be a world war, while the majority of people in Asia and the Middle East think that this is possible. Only a minority of people expect the extinction of mankind; only a majority of people from Asian countries consider this conceivable.
But people are still optimistic. Majorities in all countries – least of all in the U.S., at 50 percent – say the worst can still be avoided if drastic changes are made quickly. Spain is the country where most people say this, with 82 percent; Germany is in the bottom third, with 57 percent. But around 10 percent think it is already too late. In India, 22 percent are of this opinion, in France 20 percent, in Germany 14 percent, in Oman 4 percent.
Besides the Swedes and the Norwegians, the least agree with the statement that they personally or their country could do more against climate warming. The highest demand and readiness is found among the Italians and Spaniards and in the Asian countries.
On the background one can already find a report of the British anti-climate warming lobby The Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) strange. There it says in relation to the survey, which is also still linked: "Half of the British and most Europeans are climate skeptics." Only 51 percent of Britons believed that humanity is the main cause of climate change, despite coverage of Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion on the BBC and in the media.
It is underestimated thereby that further 37 per cent are of the opinion, humans became with other factors to the warming contribute. But they can hardly be considered climate skeptics. In Great Britain only 3 percent say that there is a climate warming not caused by humans, 2 percent see no climate warming. But GWPF director Benny Peiser, who thinks that people are hard to fool, but what he is aiming for, makes out of it:
The more the climate alarmists shout about emergencies, the more the mainstream media cut off any dissent, the less the man in the street is convinced.
It would also be strange why 66 percent of the British think that the worst can still be avoided if drastic climate protection measures are implemented quickly. 11 percent think it is already too late. It’s quite audacious how some climate warming deniers take people for fools and bet on the fact that they don’t verify their claims. On the other hand, according to the survey, it must be said that GWPF and other groups, including the AfD in Germany, are not gaining much influence.