Climate Change Concern Declines Amid War and Economic Worries

Shifting Public Priorities

• ⚠️ Public concern for climate change is declining, with war and conflict now dominating worries at 52%, while climate change trails at 31%.
• 📉 Major economies in Europe have seen sharp drops in climate concern, with France down seven points, Germany by eight, and the UK by ten points since 2022.
• 🌍 This shift is attributed to people juggling multiple crises, including economic concerns, war, terrorism, and health issues, leading to climate change being ranked lower.

Climate Change vs. Immediate Concerns

• 💡 While people may rank climate change lower, they are still concerned about its tangible impacts like wildfires, floods, droughts, and water scarcity.
• 🛍️ Despite a cooled conversation around climate, consumer behavior shows continued environmental consciousness, with seven out of ten French citizens globally choosing credibly sourced sustainable products.
• 🌳 Within specific environmental topics, deforestation and loss of biodiversity are ranked among the top three concerns, alongside climate change.

Communicating Climate Action Effectively

• 🗣️ The survey suggests a need to communicate climate change differently, focusing on concrete, day-to-day impacts and actions.
• 🤝 Climate action goals must be connected to near-term benefits and transparency about the true costs of climate change and climate action.
• ⚖️ The transition to climate action must be just, with benefits and costs fairly distributed and linked to people's daily lives, jobs, and homes.

Impact on Forests and Consumer Choices

• 🔥 Climate change is having a significant impact on global forests, with deforestation increasing due to wildfires.
• 🌲 Consumers and producers can protect forests by choosing sustainably sourced wood with third-party verification.
• ✅ Responsible forest management, as seen in Spain and Portugal, leads to fewer wildfires, better forest quality, and improved biodiversity.