Key Takeaways
- Global mandate: The overwhelming majority of people in all regions of the world see the shift to a green economy as essential, not optional.
- Resilient support: Despite political and media backlash in some regions, public support remains remarkably strong and consistent around the globe.
- Focus on delivery: The challenge is no longer about convincing people of the need for a green transition, but about how to deploy it in ways that retain such public support – by being fair to people, economically viable, and effective.
The latest research from GlobeScan shows that people in all regions of the world strongly believe that the shift to a green economy – moving from fossil-based energy to renewables – is needed. In Africa and the Middle East (97%), Latin America (96%), and Asia (95%), consensus on the necessity of a transition is near-universal, whereas North Americans (87%), Europeans (88%), and Australians (85%) are slightly less convinced but still overwhelmingly supportive.
At the global level, the perceived need for a green shift has held steady since 2023, signaling that global public support for the green transition remains robust and resilient – even in the face of growing political and media backlash.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
The question is no longer if the green transition is needed – the global public has already answered that with overwhelming clarity. The real challenge now is how to deploy it in ways that retain public support. This requires making a compelling societal case for the “how,” ensuring the transition is fair to people, economically viable, and environmentally effective. The focus must now shift to delivering solutions that meet public expectations and demonstrate that the green economy can work for everyone.
This research is part of the Societal Shift global study that GlobeScan has conducted in the lead-up to COP30 in Brazil (November 2025) to understand and strengthen societal support for climate and nature-positive transitions. The project includes a 33-country public opinion survey and roundtables with experts to identify public expectations, regional perspectives, and actionable insights for decision-makers. The research findings will be launched in early October 2025 and shared widely to help shape the global agenda at COP30.
Survey Question: In the last few years, some societies have begun shifting from fossil-based energy (e.g., oil, gas, coal) to renewable sources of energy (e.g., wind, water, solar) to address climate change. This is often called the transition to the green economy. How much would you say the shift to the green economy is needed?
