Majority of people all over the world demand that stricter emission cuts of 50 percent to 80 percent by 2050 must be established in Copenhagen.

Emerging economies and developing countries, such as Brazil and Mexico, have the strongest desire for climate change action. Meanwhile, most of the citizens from developed and carbon-intensive countries, such Britain and Canada, believe that climate change cannot be stopped.

These are some of the findings of the third annual Climate Confidence Monitor released recently by banking and financial leader HSBC. The survey, covering 12 countries, asked the most pressing climate change questions to its respondents and elicited notably strong sentiments.

At least 79 percent of the respondents demanded for deep emission cuts by 2050, with the demand highest in Mexico at 91 percent, followed by Brazil at 90 percent, Hong Kong at 84 percent, China at 82 percent, India at 75 percent, Britain at 71 percent and the United States at 66 percent.

About 65 percent said it is “very important” to establish a new international deal to cut emissions.

One-third of the respondents, or 34 percent, said climate change is one of their major worries, ranked along with global economic stability, terrorism, violence, pandemic disease, global poverty, natural disasters and social breakdown. Of these respondents, climate change ranked number one in Mexico at 22 percent compared with other global problems.

Seven out of 10 respondents, or 69 percent, said that addressing climate change is as important, if not more important than, supporting the economy during the global economic downturn.

The survey also revealed for the third straight time that the desire for climate change action is strongest in emerging economies compared to developed ones, with Brazil and Mexico registering the largest figures at 86 percent and 83 percent respectively.

Adopting a low-carbon lifestyle also garnered more support this year at 36 percent, marking a four point increase from last year. Embracing a greener lifestyle ranked highest in China, Hong Kong, India and France. The respondents said measures they most frequently adopt are recycling, turning off of electronic equipment when not in use and the installation of energy efficient lighting.

Although only two percent of respondents said that climate change is not important at all, 38 percent said that they believe climate change cannot be stopped, led by the British at 53 percent, Canadians at 51 percent and French at 50 percent.

Only 17 percent of the respondents believed that climate change can be mitigated, with figure highest among the Chinese at 38 percent. Respondents from India and Hong Kong, at 30 percent and 28 percent respectively, follow.

"With just over a month to go before Copenhagen, this is a clear call from the global population for a strong and effective deal,” said Lord Stern, adviser to HSBC on economic development and climate change.

“Rich and developing countries must act together to create an agreement that will lay the foundations for a future era of dynamic low-carbon growth," he urged.

The Climate Confidence Monitor was based on a 10-question online survey, with a minimum of 1,000 respondents surveyed in 12 markets: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Britain, the United States, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia and Mexico.

It was undertaken in partnership with The Climate Group, Earthwatch, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the World Wide Fund.





-   Jen Balboa