Key Takeaways
- Health risks dominate public anxiety about climate change: 45 percent of people believe climate change will harm their personal health in the near future, while fewer (37%) say it will make their financial situation worse.
- Well-being under strain: Four in ten also fear worsening personal safety and emotional well-being, showing the deep anxieties linked to climate disruption.
- Focusing on health can inspire climate action: Positioning climate change as a public health issue can make it more relatable and motivate broader, faster collective action.
GlobeScan’s Societal Shift project explores how societies around the world are responding to the sustainability transition. The upcoming report will offer fresh global insights into public attitudes toward sustainability, collective action, and how we can enable the transition to a more sustainable and equitable future – timed to support key conversations ahead of COP30.
Globally, 45 percent of people believe climate change will negatively affect their personal health in the next five years, making health the most widely anticipated personal impact and a potential rallying point for climate action. Additionally, 41 percent expect climate change to worsen their personal safety and well-being, while 40 percent foresee a decline in their emotional and psychological state, highlighting the deep and multifaceted anxieties people associate with climate disruption. Financial vulnerability is also a concern, although less so than physical or emotional impacts, with 37 percent of respondents believing their financial situation will deteriorate due to climate change. This reinforces the tension between recognizing climate risks and hesitating to make financial sacrifices to address them.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Health concerns are emerging as a strong personal link to climate change and a major opportunity to drive action. People are more worried about the effects of climate change on their health and well-being than on their finances, making health a powerful and universal motivator. Framing climate change as a public health issue shifts the conversation from distant environmental threats to immediate personal impacts such as cleaner air, safer water, and reduced risk of disease. Highlighting these tangible benefits can make climate action more relatable and widely supported, helping to engage people beyond traditional environmental audiences.
The Societal Shift project is part of GlobeScan’s Profit for Purpose Program, through which we commit 10 percent of our annual net income to initiatives that advance a more sustainable and equitable future. Our support is directed toward areas of greatest need or where we believe it can have the most meaningful impact.
Survey Question: And in the next five years, do you think climate change will make each of the following aspects of your life better or worse?
Countries surveyed: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Türkiye, UK, USA, and Vietnam.
