Citizens and businesses expect a lot from States to act against climate change

Since the first edition of its barometer in 2000, ADEME has wanted to highlight the representations of phenomena linked to climate change in our society. According to the latest results, the subject of the environment and ecological transition remains among the main concerns of the French despite the intergenerational gap which seems to be widening and a heavy economic and political context. Like businesses, citizens expect a lot from States to act against climate change.

Methodology

Questionnaire survey of a sample of 1519 people, representative of the French population aged 15 and over and 400 managers of companies with 50 or more employees.

Field: between June and July 2023

Despite the economic and political context, the subject of the environment remains in the top 3 concerns of the French

The subject of the environment has remained in third position in recent years among the main concerns of the French, tied this year with the security of goods and people (12%) and just after immigration (13%), two subjects which move back to the top of the rankings.

The sharp rise in environmental concern has been observed since 2019. The figure is all the more significant this year, as it has persisted despite high inflation since 2022, which has propelled the issue of price increases very largely into focus. top of the ranking (28%).

A widening intergenerational gap between young people who are more pessimistic about the consequences of climate change and older people who are more skeptical about scientific discourse.

Young people are more pessimistic about the consequences of climate change: only 15% of 15-17 year olds think that society will adapt to it without too much difficulty compared to 40% of those aged 65 and over. If, as in previous waves, young people show greater concern than their elders for the environment, they also show themselves significantly more convinced by the anthropogenic nature of climate change and trust scientists: this conviction peaks at 80% among those aged 15-17, compared to 59% among those aged 65 and over; it reaches 88% for those who classify themselves “very left” compared to 43% “very right”.

Since 2011, an average of 3 out of 4 people believe that scientists correctly assess the risks of climate change. In this 24th wave, this proportion decreases slightly. And skepticism regarding climate change and its anthropogenic causes concerns almost a third of French people: while 64% identify climate change as resulting from human activities, 28% believe in a “natural phenomenon like the Earth has always had.” known”, with only 3% denying the reality of climate change.

If climate change is today perceived as a constraint rather than an opportunity for 58% of French people (+9 points this year, highest level ever reached), this is even more the case for those aged 65 and over (66 %) than for young people (49% of 18-24 year olds).

While more than 8 in 10 French people feel like they are taking action on their own scale, there is a lot to expect from States to take action against climate change.

84% of French people believe they are already making efforts to reduce their emissions. And in fact, we observe a marked increase in people who declare: consuming less (56%, +19pts since 2017), limiting their meat consumption (52%, +16pts since 2014), not taking a plane (56% , +20pts since 2018), or even lower the temperature of their home (70%, +9pts since 2018).

Yet 60% say they could do more. There is therefore a challenge in developing conditions favorable to the adoption of lifestyles that emit less greenhouse gases.

A large majority of respondents expect more fairness in the transition. Indeed, 67% would accept significant changes in our lifestyles provided that they are shared fairly among all members of our society.

To the question “In your opinion, who would be most effective in solving the problem of climate change?” », respondents rank States first (55%), followed by citizens (38%) then international bodies and businesses (29 and 28% respectively). But when asked who acts the most today, States come in fourth position (26%), behind citizens (43%), associations (33%), communities (27%) and ahead of businesses. (18%) and international bodies (15%).

A regular decline year after year in the confidence and capacity of international bodies to resolve the problem of climate change is noted: only 27% of French people consider international bodies effective, compared to 34% in 2016.

Conversely, the role given to communities has increased. In fact, 84% of French people think that their territory will be forced to take significant measures in the decades to come to adapt. Knowledge of the adaptation measures taken in the territories is progressing significantly this year (from 50% to 60%), but negative judgments concerning these measures, considered insufficient, continue to exceed positive judgments (38% against 22%).

Focus on economic decision-makers

More sensitive than the public to the issue of climate change, 88% of economic decision-makers say they are in favor of interventionist measures by public authorities

Business leaders cite the environment far ahead of other areas of concern (59% versus 39% for rising prices and 37% for employment). They are also more convinced of the reality of climate change of anthropogenic origin than the general public (82% compared to 64%) and than 5 years ago (+ 8pts) They feel more concerned than in 2018 by the issues relating to climate change for their activity: “the increase in the cost of energy” is the issue which shows the greatest increase (cited by 77% of respondents, +32 pts), followed by “changes climate (temperature, drought)” (40%, +14pts), or the “development of renewable energies” (40%, +14pts) and the “reduction of fossil fuel consumption” (40%, +9pts).

88% of economic decision-makers are in favor of interventionist measures by public authorities: while 62% say they are in favor of aid without imposing constraints, 26% consider that public authorities should take restrictive measures for businesses (implementation of obligations and sanctions in the event of non-compliance).

For example, 84% of economic decision-makers say they are in favor of establishing a high carbon price.

They also consider it a priority to thoroughly review the country's economic system: 78% consider that the government should as a priority fundamentally reorient our economy by exclusively supporting activities that preserve the environment, health and social cohesion (vs. 58% the French). While for 22%, the priority is to revive the economy by all means in order to return to activity as quickly as possible (vs. 40% of French people).

Finally, while 61% of them consider that their company's activity has an impact on the climate, and 72% consider their company capable of significantly reducing its emissions, economic decision-makers themselves do not consider companies as the actors acting the most, placing them in 5th position after States, communities, civil society and each of us.

To know more : https://librairie.ademe.fr/changement-climatique-et-energie/6706-les-
social-representations-of-climate-change.html

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.