War, health and economic hardship top global concerns, climate slips – survey

Climate change continues to be an issue of concern among the world’s population but has dropped in importance behind wars, disease, and economic hardship, according to new survey data presented by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a global forest certification and conservation NGO.

In a global survey of 40,000 people across 50 countries conducted by IPSOS, 52 percent named wars and conflicts among their top three concerns, while 31 percent cited climate change. Between the countries surveyed in both 2022 and 2025, the gap between the top area of concern (economic hardship in 2022) and climate change widened, from 12 to 16 points.

The results from Europe are “particularly striking” and suggest public attention is shifting even in large economies leading in climate action, said FSC in a statement. Public concern about climate change has fallen by between 6.5 and 10 percentage points in France, Denmark, the UK, Spain and Germany since 2022.

At the same time, EU countries are pushing forward with “ambitious” climate legislation, creating a growing gap between “political momentum and public concern,” said the NGO. Despite people claiming to worry less about climate change, they reward sustainable brands, highlighting the need to make climate action tangible in everyday life, said the FSC. 

Japan and Brazil bucked the global decline, with public concern about climate change rising in both countries.

Polls show that climate change has become a key concern for most people across the globe. However, views about personal impacts or on how to tackle the global challenge differ widely. Some call for more ambition, others criticise that their country is asked too much. Public acceptance is key for effective action to mitigate climate change and build more resilient societies.