Finns want to promote climate action at home and across the world

According to a new barometer, Finland's global responsibility and support for climate action in developing countries is regarded more important than before.

Finns consider that climate change must be among the key themes of Finland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Compared to the results of a survey carried out before the previous parliamentary elections, this survey reveals that a larger number of Finns expect the government to adopt effective action to mitigate climate change (up from 52% to 70%).

The conclusions emerge from the Climate Barometer 2019, which is a survey of Finns' views of climate change and climate policy. The survey was commissioned by the Steering Group for Central Government Climate Communications and conducted by Kantar TNS. The Barometer also clarified how people's views have changed after 2015.

Finns approve of support for developing countries' climate action

According to the Climate Barometer, 61 per cent of the respondents considered that developing countries and the poorest people suffer the most from climate change, which is why rich countries like Finland must support them in climate change adaptation. Their proportion has grown by 15 percentage points since 2015. The proportion of those who are of the opinion that Finland should direct more development cooperation funding to climate change mitigation and to adaptation to it has also grown (up from 49% to 63%).

Of the respondents, 83 per cent considered that climate change is one the biggest global threats. The proportion of those had also grown who are of the opinion that the impacts of climate change outside the territory of Finland may cause security threats to Finland (up from 67% to 76%).

Finland and the EU to take the lead

According to the survey results, more than two out of three Finns consider that Finland should be a trailblazer in the introduction of new solutions to reduce emissions. Over 70 per cent of the respondents considered that climate change mitigation should be one of the key themes during Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Three out of four respondents would like to see that the EU take the lead in setting an example for climate change mitigation, regardless of possible impacts on the EU's competitiveness.

A growing number of Finns say that they have changed their behaviour because of climate change, and 44 per cent of them tell that they will vote for a candidate who is active in climate change mitigation. Four out of five Finns consider that urgent action is needed to mitigate climate change.

Read more about the survey and its results from the Steering Group's press release(Link to another website.).