We Think

World governments performing poorly on climate change, new poll reveals as COP28 begins

Dec. 01

‘23

By: Mike Underwood

Topics:

More than half of British voters say governments around the world are not doing a good enough job at tackling the challenges posed by climate change, a new WeThink poll shows.

Just 12% of people said world governments were doing well, while 53% said they were doing poorly. 27% said neither and 8% didn’t know.

A deeper dive into the data reveals that 23% think world governments are doing “very poorly”; 30% said “poorly”; 9% said they were doing well and only 3% said “very well”.

Very poorly

Poorly

Neither

Don't know

Well

Very well

The UK Government didn’t fare much better with 47% of people saying they were doing poorly and only 17% saying they were doing well. 28% said neither and 8% didn’t know.

In terms of personal responsibility, 53% of people agreed that their personal actions can have an impact on climate change with only 20% disagreeing. 26% said neither.

WeThink carried out the poll ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates (aka #COP28).

And on the subject of tens of thousands of people gathering in one place to talk climate change, 57% of Brits said global climate summits should be completely virtual to reduce emissions, with only 19% saying no they shouldn’t. 24% didn’t know.

ON VOTER INTENTION

In our regular weekly voter intention trackers, Labour’s lead over the Conservatives has dropped by another two points to 16, while the Prime Minister’s net approval rating fell by four to –24.

Labour (NC)

Conservative (+2)

LibDem (-3)

Reform UK (NC)

Green (NC)

SNP (NC)

PRIME MINISTER APPROVAL

Approve (-2)

Disapprove (+2)

Neither (-1)

SIR KEIR STARMER APPROVAL

Approve (NC)