Europeans want more action on climate change

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According to a Eurobarometer survey published in the summer of 2023, a vast majority of Europeans (93%) believe climate change is a serious problem. In every EU Member State, respondents are most likely to think climate change is a very serious problem. Percentages vary from 93% in Malta, 90% in Greece and 89% in Portugal to 45% in Estonia, 48% in Czechia and 54% in Romania and Latvia. 

Nearly three-quarters (73%) feel that the cost of damage caused by climate change is much higher than the investment needed for a green transition, warranting prompt action. 

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Just over one-third of Europeans think they are personally responsible for tackling climate change. Yet almost two thirds say they have taken action to fight climate change in the past six months. Nearly all EU citizens have taken at least one individual climate action (93%), for example trying to reduce waste and regularly recycling (70%), as well as reducing their consumption of disposable items (53%). 

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However, when asked who is responsible for tackling climate change, European citizens underlined the need for government and EU action  to accompany individual action. 

Overall, more than two-thirds of Europeans think that national governments are not doing enough to address climate change. Most Europeans also point to the responsibility of national governments, the EU, business and industry to act ahead of everyone else. National governments and the EU both rank in the top three actors considered responsible for tackling climate change in all 27 Member States. 

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Finally, there is strong support among Europeans for specific and targeted policies and actions to tackle climate change. Almost nine in ten think it is important that the EU and national governments set ambitious targets to increase the amount of renewable energy used by 2030. More than eight in ten respondents think that the European Union and national governments must take action to improve energy efficiency by 2030. 

A climate-neutral Europe has strong support across all Member States. Almost nine in ten respondents want greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced to a minimum, offsetting the remaining emissions to make the EU economy climate neutral by 2050. 

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