Spain, a European nation, shows a growing portion of its people viewing climate change as a threat. Inflation remains the top worry for many, yet concerns about the environment and climate change have risen significantly, ranking second for the country in the Essentials study by Ipsos, a multinational market research firm based in Paris.
Even with rising environmental concern, Spain records the lowest activist participation among the five countries analyzed in this study, at only 19 percent. France leads with 28 percent, followed by Germany at 24 percent.
Another striking finding: half of Spaniards believe the planet is on the brink of a sixth extinction, highlighting a sense of urgency about environmental risk.
Concerns about climate change are climbing for the second straight month, while the fear of rising prices stays steady. Other issues, such as the pandemic or the Ukraine war, have faded somewhat in Spaniards’ concerns.
The August survey also found that 49 percent of the world’s population feels guilty about their environmental impact, and more people want to change habits to reduce that impact.
Across the report, most people anticipate natural disasters to become more frequent and severe in the future.
Stop the climate emergency
Ipsos notes that rising concerns about the environment and global warming are linked to more extreme weather events and natural disasters that strike with greater frequency.
Globally, a large majority, 82 percent, believe these disasters will become more frequent and severe, a sentiment shared by 84 percent of Spaniards. This aligns with scientific projections.
Desertification is shown as one of the consequences of climate change.
In the face of this situation, more and more people feel that climate change and its effects threaten themselves, their country, and the planet.
Spain is among the European countries where climate risk is perceived most acutely. It ranks as the leader in personal risk perception in Europe at 23 percent, with 42 percent of Spaniards feeling personally at risk, followed by Germany at 19 percent.
The report reveals that 49 percent of citizens worldwide believe immediate and urgent action is needed to stop the climate emergency. The same level is echoed in Spain.
Seventy-nine to eighty-two percent of the global population agrees that human behavior is responsible for natural disasters and climate change, with Spaniards at about 82 percent.
This awareness translates into greater personal guilt about environmental impact: 49 percent of people globally feel guilty, and many are changing habits to reduce their footprint.
Low activist population
There have been shifts in the share of people taking practical steps since May. Recycling as much as possible remains high at 77 percent, down slightly from 79 percent in May. Using low-energy bulbs sits at 61 percent versus 67 percent previously. Driving an electric or hybrid car shows 48 percent adoption, up from 40 percent, while contributing to a car usage reduction sits at 46 percent versus 40 percent before.
Aerial imagery shows events that underscore climate risk, such as flooding in diverse regions, illustrating the real-world impact of changing weather patterns.
“As a result, more and more people declare themselves activists,” notes Ipsos. Young people and especially women are shown to be environmentally conscious and willing to adjust their lifestyles to limit environmental impact. This active segment now accounts for about 21 percent of the world’s population, up four points from the previous survey in July. Within Spain, this rate sits at 19 percent, up three points since February this year, making Spain the European country with the lowest activist participation among the five studied.
Ipsos conducted the survey on the Global Advisor online platform from August 4 to 7 this year. About 10,000 adults aged 18 to 74 were interviewed across 15 countries. Attribution: Ipsos Essentials study, 2024.
All data reflects the authorship of Ipsos and is cited accordingly. Acknowledgments and broader context are provided by the Ipsos data synthesis team in their public reporting on climate perception and action.
End of report notes: the material emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring of public attitudes toward climate risk and the adoption of sustainable practices across communities.
Environment department contact: [data not provided].