Attitude toward climate change
The view that the impacts of climate change are a serious threat is a mandatory condition for people to support climate protection measures and adapt their own behaviour accordingly.
However, a positive attitude toward climate protection does not necessarily lead to appropriate behaviour. If different behaviour is considered more beneficial - less expensive, time-saving or more comfortable, this can take precedence over the "climate protection" aspect. Also, incorrect habits or social expectations can prevent appropriate behaviour.
good
positive
In 2023 about 86% of respondents held the view that climate warming is a “high” or “very high” risk. In 1994, only 54% held this view.
People who are aware of the problem of climate change tend to be more open to climate protection measures. As they become more aware, they should also become more willing to think about their own behaviour and adapt it. For that reason, the state and changes in this indicator are rated positively.
The results for 1994 and 2007 were taken from the Swiss environmental survey conducted by ETH Zurich; the results for subsequent years were taken from the “Perception of Environmental Quality and Environmental Behaviour” survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (SFSO). The samples meet the criteria for representativeness. Participation is voluntary.
The indicator measures the percentage of respondents who rate the threat of the impacts caused by greenhouse gases as high or very high. Because a five-point scale was used in the environmental survey and a four-point scale was used in the SFSO survey, the results are not fully comparable.
| Targeted trend | Initial value | Final value | Variation in % | Observed trend | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | 1994 | 2023 | 59.26% | Growth | positive |
Further information
