“I’m thrilled to see the level of commitment of European citizens in our common fight against climate change. Individual climate actions set the social and economic trends of our societies that will help tackle climate change”
The European Investment Bank has launched the second edition of the EIB climate survey. The findings are particularly relevant at a time when climate is one of the top priorities in the EU’s agenda, and following the EIB’s adoption of a new, fossil-fuel free energy lending policy and a new climate roadmap.
Conducted in partnership with market research firm BVA, the survey aims to inform the broader debate on citizens’ attitudes and expectations in terms of climate action in the European Union, the United States and China.
Transportation
Adopting more environmentally friendly means of transportation
64% of Europeans appear ready to opt for public transport for environmental purposes over driving. In comparison, 93% of Chinese citizens and just 49% of Americans say they are already opting for this behaviour. Within the European Union, Eastern Europe stands out for its high use of public transport. Additionally, the survey finds that while only 3% of Europeans and 5% of Americans say they have replaced their car with an electric model, 26% of Chinese respondents state they have already done so.
When it comes to air transportation, 36% of Europeans say they already fly less for holidays to fight climate change, and 75% of Europeans intend to do so in 2020. This figure increases to 94% in China, but is only 69% in the United States of America. People in the European Union, especially Croatia, Slovakia and Germany are particularly committed to flying less and travelling more by train.
Home and consumption
New Year’s resolutions on home heating and climate-conscious consumption
91% of Chinese citizens say they intend to heat their home less to fight climate change compared to 78% of Europeans and 75% of Americans. Other differences appear when it comes to environmental actions at home: more than 94% of Chinese citizens intend to or have already switched to a green energy provider, compared to 70% of Europeans and 64% of Americans.
With regard to climate-conscious consumption and investment, respondents in Europe and in the US are less inclined to engage than their Chinese counterparts. 86% of the population in China say they intend to invest in green funds in 2020 compared to 56% in the US and 52% in Europe. Eastern European countries and the Baltic States in particular are the least inclined to boycott heavily polluting brands.
Find out more about citizens’ commitment towards climate change in the following countries
84% of French people intend to heat their home less in winter to fight climate change, 39% are already doing so
Overall, French respondents say they are willing to adjust their lifestyle to fight climate change, but to varying degrees. 90% of respondents appear ready to consume only local food products, while 94% are committed to buying fewer plastic bottles.
When it comes to choosing more environmentally friendly means of transport, the French lag behind other European countries. Only 58% of French people say they intend to use public transport for their daily commute to fight climate change, which is lower than the European average (64%). 27% of the French population (the highest score in Europe) report that they do not have access to public transport, with the highest rates in Normandy (39%), the Pays de la Loire (38%), Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (37%) and in the Grand-Est region (35%).
80% of Germans are ready to fly less
Across all regions of Germany, people are willing to adjust their lifestyle to fight climate change, but to varying degrees. The survey notably finds that 80% of Germans are ready to fly less for holidays. In addition, 63% of respondents heat their home less in winter for environmental purposes, and 85% of Germans aged 15-29 would boycott companies or brands that contribute heavily to global warming.
When it comes to environmentally friendly transport, Germans lag behind other European countries. While 72% of Germans say they commute on foot or by bicycle to fight climate change, compared to 76% of Europeans who do the same, only 55% choose public transport over cars, which is lower than the European average of 64%.
94% of Italians intend to stop using plastic bottles, 66% have already done so
Italians would be more willing than other Europeans to make lifestyle adjustments to fight climate change. According to the findings, 93% of Italian respondents intend to buy more local food products, with 48% already doing so. 77% of respondents also plan to fly less to combat climate change.
When it comes to waste, 97% of Italians have stopped or reduced their plastic use. More specifically, 94% of Italians say they intend to stop buying plastic bottles, 97% want to stop using plastic shopping bags and 96% intend to buy fewer products wrapped in plastic. Women are more likely than men to limit plastic consumption: 65% of Italian women say they have given up plastic shopping bags compared to 55% of men.
73% of Poles intend to choose public transport over cars to fight climate change, 33% already doing so
Overall, the Polish population is willing to adjust its lifestyle to help tackle climate change. The survey reveals that 73% of Poles intend to choose public transport over driving for environmental purposes. 96% of respondents also plan to buy local and seasonal products in 2020.
69% of Poles say they are heating their home less in winter for environmental purposes and an additional 8% of the population intends to do so. Poland is lagging behind in Europe when it comes to green energy: only 10% of the population has switched to a green energy provider at home, compared to an average of 25% in Europe. However, 51% of Poles say they intend to take this step in the coming months.
Spaniards have ambitious New Year’s resolutions to fight against climate change
Spaniards are willing to make more of an effort to adjust their lifestyle to fight climate change than the rest of Europe. According to the findings of the survey, 95% of Spaniards aim to buy fewer plastic products, while 78% of the respondents intend to fly less for environmental purposes. 74% of Spaniards also appear ready to use less air conditioning in their homes.
78% of Spanish citizens say they would boycott companies or brands that contribute heavily to global warming. Investing in green funds is also popular in Spain: about 60% of the population says they are planning to take this step, which is 8 points higher than the European average of 52%. Meanwhile, 75% of the Spanish population has taken or will take part in climate demonstrations, 19 points higher than the European average (56%). This figure reaches 83% for Spaniards aged 15-29.
64% of Swedes intend to switch to a green energy provider, 39% have already done so
Overall, the Swedish population is planning fewer lifestyle adjustments to tackle climate change than other Europeans. Sweden is also significantly behind the rest of Europe as only 53% of its inhabitants plan to heat their homes less in winter, compared to 78% of Europeans. However, 39% of Swedes say they have already switched to a green energy provider (14 points above the European average).
As illustrated in the infographic, Swedish women take a clear lead in climate-related actions compared to men. They are more likely to reduce red meat intake (80% versus 65% of men), fly less for holidays (75% versus 65% of men) and stop using plastic bottles (78% versus 67% of men).
Contact
Thomas Froimovici
European Investment Bank
98-100, boulevard Konrad Adenauer
L-2950 Luxembourg
Luxembourg
t.froimovici@eib.org
+352 4379 - 83249
+352 691284262