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Climate Literacy in Global Perspective:Findings from the Gallup World Poll
Anthony Leiserowitz, Lucy Michaels
Yale Project on Climate Change
Yale University
Gallup World Poll Methodology
• Annual survey in 150+ countries since 2006• Over 475,000 respondents so far• Represent 95% of global population (aged 15 & over)• Nationally representative random sampling (urban &
rural)– RDD telephone in countries with 80%+ coverage– Face to face (3 stage random sampling)
• Typically n = 1000• Questions include a wide range of topics e.g., food &
shelter, well-being, politics, values, environment.• Translated into major local languages (quality review/
pilot tests)
Climate Change Questions
• Four questions on climate change from 2007- 2009– Awareness and Self-reported knowledge– Cause (human or natural)– Risk perception (personal threat)– National government action
• Combined country data across years
“How much do you know about global warming or climate change?”(I’ve never heard of it; don’t know; refused) n = 269,913 in 132 countries (2007-2009)
“Unaware” of Climate Change
BangladeshIndonesia India
China
Nigeria
Brazil
Mexico
Egypt
PakistanS. Africa
Per
cen
t of P
opul
ation
Una
war
ePercent and Size of Population
Unaware of Climate Change
Bangladesh: Climate ChangeAwareness by Education Level
0
25
50
75
100
44 million
25 million
112 ,000
Series3
Education
Per
cen
t U
naw
are
Self-Reported Knowledge“How much do you know about global warming or climate change?”
Japa
n
Finlan
d
Norway
Austra
lia UKUSA
Ivor
y Coa
st
Burun
di
Niger
Gha
naBen
in
Liber
ia0
25
50
75
100
77 75 74 75 7871
23 22 19 20 1914
22 23 23 23 1925
3 2 4 3 21
Know Something A Great Deal
Per
cen
t o
f P
op
ula
tio
n
Causes of Climate Change“Temperature rise is a part of global warming or climate change. Do you think rising
temperatures are a result of human activities or a result of natural causes?”n = 168,684 in 130 countries
Human
act
iviti
es
Natura
l act
iviti
es
Both (V
ol.)
Don't kn
ow0
25
50
75
58
2514 3
Per
cen
t o
f "
Aw
are"
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 3500
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
USA
Japan
MalaysiaBrazil
MexicoGermany
Canada
Climate Change Due to Natural Causes:Major Emitters
Millions of People
Per
cent
of
“Aw
ares
”
India
China
UKRussia
Indonesia
Risk Perception
“How serious of a threat is global warming to you and your family?”(percent of the “Aware” that said “very serious”)
n = 127,207 in 128 countries (2007- 2008)
Major Emitters: Personal Threat
Brazil
Mex
icoIn
dia
South
Kor
ea
Indo
nesia
Mala
ysia
Japa
nUSA UK
Ger
man
y
Russia
China
0
25
50
75
100
8466
5438 36 31 30 25 23 20 19
7
Major Emitters
Per
cen
t o
f A
war
e
Your GovernmentDo you think the government is doing enough to reduce emissions of gases
released by motor vehicles and factories, or not?”n = 31,913 in 61 countries in 2009
0
25
50
75
26
62
2 10
Perc
en
t o
f A
ware
Mexico Russia Japan Canada Indonesia Brazil USA China0
25
50
75
70 68 64 62 60 6052 48
Major Emitters
Per
cent
of
of
Aw
are
Our government is NOT doing enough.“Do you think the government is doing enough to reduce emissions of gases
released by motor vehicles and factories, or not?”
Summary
• Approximately 40% or 1.9 billion are unaware of climate change. Often the most vulnerable.
• Of those who are “Aware”, most:– Understand that climate change is caused by human
activities; with some notable exceptions (US & India).– Perceive climate change as a personal threat –
developing countries more than developed countries, (except China).
– Want their own government to do more to address climate change.
For more information:
The Gallup World Poll:
The Yale Project on Climate Change:
research.yale.edu/environment/climate/
