Climate change is the main problem facing humanity, ahead of armed conflicts and the risk of loss of natural resources.
This is the main conclusion of the “National Study of Citizen Perceptions on Climate Change”, prepared by the AXA Foundation in collaboration with Sigma Dos, and which was presented this week.
The study provides data that clearly reveal that 84.3% of Spaniards believe that the phenomenon is occurring; 82.1% believe that it has worsened a lot or quite a bit in recent years. And 73.5% believe that human action is the main cause of this process.
The above is the glass half full part. On the other hand, the report also reveals that, despite the increase in extreme weather events, forest fires in recent years, rising sea levels and record high summer temperatures that have been recorded recently, one in ten Spaniards is still a climate denier.
Causes and concerns
According to the study, more than 80% of Spaniards believe that deforestation and the industry that burns fossil fuels and generates waste are the factors that have a great or significant influence on climate change. This is followed by the consumption of energy based on fossil fuels and the use of these fuels for transport.
In any case, 80% believe that global warming will affect extreme weather events and the rise in sea levels due to the melting of the poles. The majority also think that fires will increase and biodiversity will decrease.
The consequences of climate change are of personal concern to the population. Health and nutrition are the areas in which 77% and 71.5% respectively believe that the environmental crisis may directly affect them. In fact, deaths from heat waves last summer have greatly influenced this perception. And women and people aged 30 to 64 are the most concerned about this.
Take action
In everyday life, 87% say they are in favour of making better use of water, but far fewer say they are in favour of changing eating, mobility and tourism habits to reduce their own environmental footprint. They say that the price of sustainable products is a hindrance to this. They think that international institutions, including the EU and the Spanish government, should take the reins of the situation.
In this regard, the CEO of the AXA Foundation, Josep Alfonso, expressed during the presentation his conviction that “sustainability is not only a responsibility; it is also the opportunity to ensure a safer and healthier future for all. It is urgent to act today to protect future generations.”