The world's local bankHSBC Climate Confidence Index
The HSBC Climate Confidence Index survey involved 9,000 people in nine countries across five continents and the results showed a striking array of differences and similarities. This unique and exciting piece of research aims to discover how people across the globe feel about climate change and will be repeated annually until 2011.
The HSBC Climate Confidence Index shows that people in developing economies exhibit the greatest concern, commitment and optimism towards the problem of climate change while respondents in developed economies demonstrate the greatest indifference, reluctance and fatalism.
Climate change is having a significant impact on public opinion in the developing countries surveyed. Around 60% of respondents registered a high level of concern in China, India, Mexico and Brazil, compared with only 22% in the UK and 26% in Germany. Similarly, people’s assessment of their commitment to tackling climate change is higher in developing economies. Around 47% of people indicated high levels of personal commitment to combating climate change in India and Brazil, compared with only 19% in the UK.
With regard to whose responsibility it is to tackle the problem, a clear majority of all respondents across countries and age groups – 68% – believe that governments should be playing the leading role, compared with non-governmental organisations, companies and individuals. However only 33% felt that governments play this role today.
Below are some survey results from individual countries. To read the full report or any of the country reports, click here.
Brazil – One of the most concerned and committed of any economy, Brazil is also one of the most pessimistic among the developing economies.
China – China is one of the most committed and optimistic of the countries surveyed, but expects government, not individual-led, action.
France – While France is one of the more engaged developed economies in the issue of climate change, it is also the most pessimistic.
Germany – Germany is demonstrating a fatalistic attitude with one of the lowest levels of concern.
Hong Kong – While Hong Kong believes that action should be government-led, it is only moderately engaged, although still maintaining an optimistic outlook.
India – India is extremely committed and believes that individuals acting together can make a difference to climate change.
Mexico – The most pessimistic among developing economies, Mexico is still very concerned about climate change and wants more information on what to do.
UK – The UK showed the lowest level of concern and commitment of any country, exacerbated by a fatalistic attitude in the younger generation.
USA – In the USA, people are very confident and optimistic; unusually, it is the younger generation that is most concerned.
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HSBC Climate Confidence Index
The HSBC Climate Confidence Index survey involved 9,000 people in nine countries across five continents and the results showed a striking array of differences and similarities.
