87 percent of Austrians do not believe that the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai will produce any results. Accordingly, there is little interest in the conference: almost three quarters of respondents are hardly interested in it. 39% are even of the opinion that humanity can still live comfortably if the average global temperatures rise by more than three degrees Celsius. These are the findings of a recent survey conducted as part of the new “Wissenschaftsbarometer 2023” by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW).
The Austrian public is aware of climate change and only a small minority doubts that the crisis is man-made. However, 40 percent of the population still think that Austria has more pressing issues. Only one in five see climate change as the most important topic today. Overall, it came fourth out of the six topics, behind health care and the fight against poverty. Only migration and education ranked lower in importance.
63% of respondents believe that more measures should be taken to protect the climate and more than half (58%) also believe that the world is heading for a climate catastrophe. At the same time, almost half of the population (47%) believe that the media is exaggerating the issue, to the point of creating hysteria.
Low commitment, resigned attitude
The willingness to get involved in climate protection also varies. Three quarters of the population are very much in favour of repairing more, buying less new products and using them for longer. In addition, more than two thirds of respondents would opt for regional products and more than half could imagine switching to more climate-friendly heating systems. 46 percent would even be prepared to do without air and long-distance travel. However, when it comes to measures such as a 100 km/h speed limit on motorways (39% would "not participate") or phasing out the combustion engine, the willingness to make a personal commitment to protecting the climate decreases significantly (49% are against).
However, the vast majority of the population does not believe that the fight against climate change can still be successful. Only a small group of 11% have the impression that we are well on the way to getting climate change under control. 60 percent are sceptical as to whether we will succeed and a fifth consider this project to be completely hopeless.
"We included questions about climate change in the “Wissenschaftsbarometer 2023”, because we wanted to see the extent to which the results of climate research are accepted. What emerges is an ambivalence in the assessment of man-made climate change and the measures against it," says OeAW President Heinz Faßmann, interpreting the results of the survey. "The view is that measures to combat climate change are necessary, but the chances of success in these efforts are rated as low. This shows a certain resignation. Therefore, we should try to motivate rather than alarm in our communication on climate change and we should continue to provide fact-based information and point out possible courses of action. Otherwise, suppression or even denial of climate change are the problematic consequences."
The role of science: informing, but not protesting
The public would certainly approve of more engagement by scientists on the topic of climate change. According to the survey, researchers should share their expertise in public lectures, scientific journals, comments on political decisions and the initiation of referendums and petitions.
Overall, respondents also want politicians to listen more to science. 66 percent want political decisions to be based on scientific findings. However, a clear majority of respondents clearly rejected climate activism by scientists.
Method
Gallup International surveyed 1,500 people in Austria aged 16 and over. A mixed-mode survey (1,000 online and 500 telephone interviews) was conducted between September 18 and October 29, 2023. The weighted sample was representative of the Austrian resident population in terms of age, gender, education, number of inhabitants in the municipality, employment status and formal level of education.
