Portugal stands out in concern about climate change

Portugal stands out among about 200 countries regarding concern for climate change, with 93% of those surveyed responding in that sense, according to a study by Meta, owner of Facebook, released on Wednesday.

The survey, dedicated to climate change, was done in partnership with Yale University and conducted between March and April this year, involving 100,000 Facebook users in about 200 countries.

According to Meta, respondents answered questions about their knowledge and perception of climate change and “the results demonstrate a picture of deep global concern about these issues and a desire for governments to take more meaningful action to combat climate change”.

In the survey, among the nearly 200 countries, Portugal’s users stood out in several points, namely in the concern with climate change and the next 20 years, considering that the government should reduce pollution and, finally, that the country should use more renewable energy.

With regard to concern about climate change, Mexico (95% of respondents), Portugal and Chile (both 93%) are “the most likely to say they are ‘very concerned’ or ‘somewhat concerned’ about climate change”, according to Meta.

On climate change being a threat in the next 20 years, “respondents in Malawi (93%), Portugal and Mexico (both 92%) are the most likely to think that climate change is a ‘very serious’ or ‘somewhat serious’ threat to people in their country or territory in the next 20 years.”

In terms of national responsibility to reduce climate change, users in Australia and Portugal (65% both) are the most likely to think that their country or territory should reduce pollution.

Regarding increasing the use of renewable energy, respondents in Hungary (91%), Portugal and Spain (both 89%) are the most likely to advocate that their country should use “a lot more” or “a little more” this type of green energy.

“People support the use of more renewable energy and less fossil fuels. Around nine out of 10 people in Hungary, Portugal and Spain think their country should use a little or a lot more renewable energy,” Nick Clegg, head of ‘global affairs’ at Meta, highlights in an article on the survey.