CGTN poll: World public urges countries to take concrete action on climate governance

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and it also represents a crucial moment for countries to submit a new round of Nationally Determined Contributions. Global climate governance is at a critical crossroads, requiring immediate and practical action.

A global survey by CGTN, covering 33,000 respondents across 48 countries, reveals widespread agreement on both the urgency and long-term importance of global climate governance. China's approach and achievements in contributing to global climate efforts have received wide recognition, and respondents are calling on all nations to take pragmatic actions and work together to tackle climate change.

According to the survey, 91 percent of respondents believe the frequency of extreme weather events worldwide has risen rapidly in recent years; 89.2 percent say this trend reflects a rapidly deteriorating global climate, and 90 percent agree that responding to climate change is an urgent priority, calling on the international community to take strong and concrete action.

At this critical moment for global climate governance, how countries respond and whether they can deliver on their commitments will not only determine the success of climate action but also profoundly shape the future of humanity. According to the survey, 85 percent of respondents believe that strengthening cooperation among nations is essential for effective global climate governance. Besides, 75.1 percent criticize developed countries for lacking sincerity and action on climate issues; 75 percent say their repeated failure to fulfill climate aid commitments is irresponsible; and 86.4 percent believe developed countries bear unavoidable historical and moral responsibility for human-induced climate change, calling on them to take stronger and more concrete action.

Meanwhile, respondents from Global South countries show stronger determination and resolve in addressing climate issues than those from developed countries: 94.6 percent are willing to incorporate energy conservation and emission reduction into their own behavior and daily life – 14.9 percentage points higher than respondents in developed countries; 96.2 percent of Global South respondents call for accelerating the development of green industries to tackle climate change, 13.4 percentage points higher than developed countries.

This year, China announced a new round of Nationally Determined Contributions, reflecting its greatest efforts in line with the Paris Agreement. Global respondents have given positive feedback on this: 76.7 percent believe China has effectively controlled greenhouse gas emissions; 70.5 percent recognize China's efforts in building clean energy infrastructure such as wind and solar power; and 79.9 percent believe China's climate governance practices provide valuable reference for other countries. Respondents from Global South countries and those under 44 years old show higher-than-average agreement in these areas. In addition, 75.8 percent of respondents say China has shown strong determination and responsibility as a major power in climate governance, and 73.4 percent of respondents approve of China's approach to global climate governance and anticipate it will play an even greater role in the future.

This survey was conducted by CGTN, in collaboration with Renmin University of China, through the Institute for International Communication in the New Era, targeting respondents worldwide. The surveyed countries include major developed countries as well as Global South countries. All respondents are ordinary adults aged 18 and above, with the sample reflecting each country's population distribution by age and gender.