A huge 89 percent majority among the world’s people want stronger action to fight the climate crisis, but they are trapped in a self-fulfilling “spiral of silence” because they mistakenly believe they are in a minority, research has shown. Making people aware that their pro-climate view is, in fact, the majority could unlock a social tipping point and push leaders into the climate action so urgently needed, experts say.
The key data comes from a global survey that interviewed 130,000 people across 125 nations and found 89 percent think their national government “should do more to fight global warming.” It also asked people if they would “contribute 1 percent of their household income every month to fight global warming” and what proportion of their fellow citizens they thought would do the same. In almost all countries, people believed only a minority of their fellow citizens would be willing to contribute. In reality, the opposite was true: more than 50 percent of citizens were willing to contribute in all but a few nations.
The global average of those willing to contribute was 69 percent, a clear majority. But the percentage that people thought would be willing was 43 percent, a minority. The gap between perception and reality was as high as 40 percentage points in some countries, from Greece to Gabon. Further analysis of the survey data for the Guardian showed that public backing for climate action was as strong in the crucial G20 member nations as in the rest of the world. These nations, including the US, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Australia, are responsible for 77 percent of global carbon emissions.
“One of the most powerful forms of climate communication is just telling people that a majority of other people think climate change is happening, human-caused, a serious problem and a priority for action,” said Professor Anthony Leiserowitz at Yale University. Professor Cynthia Frantz at Oberlin College in the U.S., said, “Currently, worrying about climate change is something people are largely doing in the privacy of their own minds – we are locked in a self-fulfilling spiral of silence.”
Dr. Niall McLoughlin, at the Climate Barometer research group in Great Britain, said, “If you were to unlock the perception gaps, that could move us closer to a social tipping point amongst the public on climate issues.” The existence of a silent climate majority across the planet is supported by multiple separate analyses. Other studies demonstrate a clear global appetite for action, from citizens of rich nations strongly supporting financial support for poorer vulnerable countries and even those in petrostates backing a phase-out of coal, oil, and gas.
A decades-long campaign of misinformation by the fossil fuel industry is a key reason the climate majority has been suppressed, researchers said. Professor Teodora Boneva, at the University of Bonn in Germany, and part of the team behind the 125-nation survey, said, “The world is united in its judgment about climate change and the need to act. Our results suggest a concerted effort to correct these misperceptions could be powerful intervention, yielding large, positive effects.”
The 125 countries in the survey account for 96 percent of the world’s carbon emissions, and the results were published in the journal, Nature Climate Change. People in China, the world’s biggest polluter, were among the most concerned, with 97 percent saying its government should do more to fight climate change and four out of five willing to give 1 percent of their income. Brazil, Portugal, and Sri Lanka also ranked high.
The world’s second biggest polluter, the U.S., was near the bottom, but still had 74 percent of its citizens saying its government should do more and 48 percent willing to contribute. New Zealand, Norway, and Russia were also relatively low-scoring. Research has also found that politicians suffer from serious misperceptions. In the UK, Members of Parliament vastly underestimated public support for onshore wind farms. In the United States, people’s support for limits on carbon emissions was underestimated by almost 80 percent by Congressional staffers, sometimes by more than 50 percentage points.
“Perception gaps can have real consequences – they could mean that climate policies are not as ambitious as the public sentiment,” said McLoughlin. Substantial evidence exists that correcting mistaken beliefs about the views of others can change people’s views on many subjects, from opinions on immigrants and violence against women to environmental topics such as saving energy.
“People deeply understand we are in a climate emergency,” said Cassie Flynn, at the UN Development Programme, whose People’s Climate Vote in 2024 found 80 percent of people wanted stronger climate action from their countries. “They want world leaders to be bold, because they are living it day-to-day. World leaders should look at this data as a resounding call for them to rise to the challenge.”
In a related context, a survey conducted by Siena College Research Institute after Earth Day revealed that New Yorkers are nearly split on fossil fuel usage. The poll, which queried 618 residents, found 46 percent believe that the state should prioritize restricting fossil fuel usage while expanding renewable energy sources, regardless of expense. Conversely, 43 percent believe the focus should be on lowering energy costs for residents while continuing fossil fuel use.
When asked about climate change, 46 percent of New Yorkers stated they believe it is already harming people, while 24 percent think it will cause harm in the near future. A significant majority of respondents, 62 percent, expressed being either very or somewhat concerned about how climate change will affect them personally, with 73 percent concerned about its impact on future generations.
Interestingly, 61 percent of residents felt that keeping energy costs affordable is more critical than reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, 77 percent agreed that policies protecting the environment would benefit New Yorkers' long-term health. Additionally, 72 percent of those surveyed considered climate change at least a somewhat serious issue, showcasing a complex relationship between economic concerns and environmental priorities.
Support for transitioning to renewable energy sources was strong, with two-thirds believing it would contribute to economic development success. Yet, 46 percent still feared that policies limiting greenhouse gas emissions could hinder business success in New York. The survey indicates a nuanced perspective among New Yorkers regarding environmental policy, demonstrating both concern for climate change and apprehension about its economic implications.
As we move forward in the fight against climate change, these insights from global and local surveys highlight the urgent need for effective communication and policy-making that aligns public sentiment with actionable solutions. The data suggests that the majority of people are ready for change, but it is essential to bridge the gap between perception and reality to mobilize collective action.
