MANAGER
Convincing polls should give the world’s political leaders a climate kick behind.
THE ROAR: Climate activists in place in Glasgow. Radical climate measures have great support, according to opinion polls. Photo: AFP / NTB
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Manager: This is an editorial from Dagbladet, and expresses the newspaper’s views. Dagbladet’s political editor is responsible for the editorial.
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Since that as known now is the turn of ordinary people, let’s put our ear to the ground and listen. Or more precisely, we urge world leaders who these days are meeting in Glasgow to connect on the planet themselves, to concentrate, to listen to the ground, and to listen attentively. Because according to a number of opinion polls from around the world, a climate roar is now rising from ordinary people. From all over the globe, people demand more than talk. They demand radical climate action now, right away. So let’s hope it’s really ordinary people’s turn now.
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According to the world most comprehensive opinion poll on climate ever, conducted by the UN Development Program UNDP, says two-thirds of the population in 50 countries that the climate issue is a global crisis. Among the youngest, those between 14 and 18 years old, 69 per cent believe that we are facing a global crisis. But seniors are not far behind in the important recognition, with 58 percent saying the same. The survey had more than one million respondents.
The luxury cost
Another poll The BBC’s 31 countries show that 56 per cent want their governments to implement more radical climate targets as soon as possible, while 36 per cent believe it will be more gradual – much like now – and only 8 per cent want no action. And is there any difference in education or class, as many seem to believe? No. In the UK, 43 per cent of those who define themselves as working class are very worried. While the figure for those who define themselves as middle class is about the same, 46 percent. Climate change is what people in Europe are most worried about, more than corona and the economy, the measurements show.
Erna’s last sting
We’re talking about extremely convincing figures. From most people. But confidence in politicians’ ability to implement is low. For the figures also show a deep skepticism of our political leaders’ ability to implement necessary climate measures, as they are on the table in Glasgow. The politicians’ clients in democracies are us, the people. And the signal we are sending to the climate summit in Glasgow is unmistakable. Most people understand the dangers of doing too little too late. They – that is, we – want a more radical climate policy now.
Our leaders must stop being the fox dilators of history. We – how busy Dagbladet is – expect and demand more from our leaders.
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