Climate Decision Makers Call for More Political Leadership and a Clear Policy Environment:
Global Survey

Detailed Results

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This survey is the first of a continuing series of twice-yearly surveys of climate decision makers and influencers across the world. The survey was conducted in the six official UN languages over the Internet by GlobeScan Incorporated between November 2007 and March 2008.

Experts surveyed believe that there is currently little consensus on what are the best solutions to climate change. This ongoing research initiative is intended to help advance worldwide consensus on responses to climate change by providing a quantitative input to decision making processes in all sectors. Additional findings follow.

A broad, holistic approach to climate decision making is seen as required, within the context of sustainable development.

  • Nine in ten (88%) experts strongly emphasize the importance of climate decisions to be made within the framework of sustainable development. Protection of biodiversity and agreed atmospheric CO2 concentrations are also seen as important frameworks for climate decisions and actions.
  • In addition, investing in ecosystems and biodiversity protection are considered top priorities for advancing climate change solutions overall.

The performance of key actors—particularly national governments—is seen to have been inadequate to date.
    • The governments of the United States, India, and China receive the lowest performance ratings for past year efforts in addressing climate change. The lack of leadership from the United States is regarded as the greatest failure, garnering mentions from one-quarter of respondents (24%, unprompted).
    • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and scientists and environmental NGOs are regarded higher than all others for their past year efforts.

Decision makers are most in need of political support, policy development, and regulatory clarity in order to implement climate change solutions. Governments are asked to take the lead.

  • For adequate progress to be made on climate change, respondents expect the most important leadership and policy development to come from national governments.
  • Removing subsidies that promote high-carbon activities and public policy development at all levels are seen as the most urgent priorities for advancing climate solutions.
  • In addition, garnering political support is seen as the most essential resource that is required in order to address climate change.

After policy, technology development and transfer is seen to be essential, particularly in seizing the many remaining opportunities that experts see in the areas of demand management, energy efficiency and conservation.

  • After urgent public policy initiatives, technology development and transfer is ranked as a high priority in advancing climate solutions.
  • Of 18 technologies examined, renewable energies, especially solar (photovoltaic and passive) and wind technologies, are expected to have the greatest potential to lower atmospheric carbon levels over the next 25 years.
  • First generation bio-fuels from food crops are rated the lowest in terms of their potential to reduce carbon emissions without unacceptable side effects. Second generation fuels from field waste and biomass are also only given modest ratings.

Decision makers overwhelmingly emphasize that all major carbon emitting countries should be included in a post-Kyoto agreement.

  • Experts call on wealthy countries to provide aid and technology transfer to developing countries.
  • The results suggest that emissions reduction commitments can be based on the signatory countries’ stages of development, but that they should be legally binding.
  • Less emphasis is placed on including all countries in the world and setting consistent pricing and taxing systems.

To download a full report of survey results in PowerPoint format, including all charts and methodological details, click here.