Multi-country poll reveals majorities of people want action on climate change
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A new poll of 15 nations, most of them in the developing world, has found that majorities of the people canvassed want their governments to take steps to fight climate change, even if that entails costs, the World Bank reported on Thursday.
Carried out by WorldPublicOpinion.org and commissioned by the World Bank, the poll questioned 13,518 respondents in 15 nations -- Bangladesh, China, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Russia, Senegal, Turkey, the United States, and Vietnam.
According to the poll, majorities of the people signaled they would support public measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions and step up adaptation measures.
For example, respondents would support higher fuel efficiency standards for cars, preserving or expanding forests, and extending funding to vulnerable countries so they can develop hardier crops suited to more severe climates.
"The poll's findings shed light on global attitudes at a particularly important moment: the run-up to the conference on climate change to be held Dec. 7-18 in Copenhagen. Hearing from people in the developing world offers a new lens on this issue," said Katherine Sierra, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development.
In the low-income country of Vietnam, for example, 98 percent said their government should commit to limiting emissions as part of a deal, and 93 percent support the same course in the absence of a deal, according to the poll.
At the other end of the wealth spectrum, the people of France express 97 percent support if an agreement is reached at Copenhagen, and 87 percent if no agreement emerges.
The poll also asked about helping poor countries adapt to the effects of climate change.
Fourteen majorities and one plurality said their countries " should contribute to international efforts to help poor countries deal with these climate-induced changes."
