Most Europeans want action to tackle climate crisis but not at any cost, poll shows

YouGov survey finds support for tree planting and emissions taxes but opposition to air travel and fuel levies

Europeans believe human-made climate change is real, a survey has shown, with most feeling action must be taken soon – as long as they do not have to sacrifice too much to achieve it.

The YouGov poll of six European countries showed between 69% (Germany) and 80% (France) of respondents believed the climate was changing, with few (1%-4%) denying it and 14-20% believing it was changing, but not as a result of human activity.

Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent and scientists say human-driven climate breakdown through the burning of fossil fuels is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and destructive storms.

Days before the Cop31 climate conference in Turkey, the polling showed vast majorities (79-89%) in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK thought countries would combat the crisis more effectively by working internationally.

Those in the EU were more likely to say that climate action decisions should be made at EU rather than national level, a feeling shared by 50-54% of respondents in France, Italy and Germany as well as 61% in Denmark and 64% in Spain.

Majorities of between 65% and 83% in each country surveyed said they were worried about the climate crisis, including 23%-42% who were “very worried”. YouGov noted an uptick in concern during this summer’s heatwaves.

In April, 74% of respondents in France said they were worried about the climate crisis but that figure was up to 83% by mid-August and still at that level last month.

The number of French people who were “very worried” about climate change also rose, from 28% in April to a record high of 42% in August, a level it held last month. Concern in other countries spiked in August but has since dipped.

In Germany, for example, the number very concerned rose from 27% in April to 40% in August but has now fallen back to 31%. Concern remained relatively stable in Denmark, at 66%-69% “worried” and 20%-23% “very worried”.

Across the six countries surveyed, respondents mostly (45%-63%) thought it was not too late to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis but that it would require a drastic change in approach. Only 11%-24% believed it was already too late.

Between 9% and 20% said they thought current measures would be enough to prevent the most serious impacts. But in terms of what climate actions had support, those not directly affecting people’s lives were the most popular.

Measures such as planting more trees, subsidising energy efficiency, banning single-use plastics and taxing big emitters were all favoured, while increasing fuel duty, limiting meat and dairy, taxing air fares and banning new petrol and diesel cars were opposed.

A similar pattern emerged when respondents were asked what steps they would be prepared to take: cheap and easy actions such as creating green space at home and eating only seasonal fruit and vegetables were popular, but not shopping exclusively secondhand or paying more for flights.