Environmental (Commonwealth Union)_ A staggering 89% of people around the world believe their governments should do more to fight climate change, but most think they’re in the minority.
Researchers have described this disconnect as a “spiral of silence,” which is now a key obstacle in the push for urgent climate action. According to one of the most extensive climate opinion surveys ever conducted, spanning 130,000 people in 125 countries, there is overwhelming public support for a stronger government response to global warming. Yet many people wrongly assume they are alone in their concerns.
The study, published in Nature Climate Change, reveals a powerful truth: most people care deeply about the climate crisis, are ready to act, and are even willing to give up 1% of their household income each month to help fight it. In almost every country surveyed, more than half of citizens said they were willing to contribute. The global average stood at 69%, yet the perceived average was only 43%.
This gap between perception and reality shows that people dramatically underestimate how much others care about climate change, with differences reaching up to 40 percentage points in some nations like Greece and Gabon.
A Global Call Hidden in Plain Sight
“We are locked in a self-fulfilling spiral of silence,” said Prof. Cynthia Frantz of Oberlin College. “Worrying about climate change is something people are largely doing in the privacy of their own minds.”
This perception gap isn’t just a psychological quirk; it’s politically consequential. If people believe they’re in the minority, they are less likely to speak up, vote accordingly, or demand ambitious climate policies. The result? Policymakers assume public support for bold action is weak and so hesitate to act.
In the UK, Members of Parliament significantly underestimate public backing for onshore wind farms. In the U.S., nearly 80% of congressional staffers wrongly believe that the public opposes carbon emission limits, often by margins of over 50 percentage points.
“Correcting this misperception could be a powerful intervention,” said Prof. Teodora Boneva, one of the researchers. “The world is united in its judgment about climate change and the need to act.”
From Silence to Social Tipping Point
Experts believe that simply sharing the truth that the vast majority of people do care could unlock a wave of social momentum. Scientists have demonstrated for years the connection between climate change and extreme weather.
“One of the most powerful forms of climate communication is just telling people that a majority of others believe climate change is real, human-caused, and urgent,” said Prof. Anthony Leiserowitz of Yale University.
Dr Niall McLoughlin from the UK-based Climate Barometer research group added: “If we unlock the perception gaps, we could hit a social tipping point. People are far more likely to act when they know others will too.”
Even in countries often considered climate laggards, support was strong. In China, 97% of respondents said the government should do more, and 80% were willing to give 1% of their income. In the U.S., 74% wanted stronger government action, and nearly half said they’d contribute financially.
People from both developed and developing countries, ranging from Portugal to Sri Lanka, are eager for change. But misinformation campaigns, particularly from fossil fuel interests, have long worked to suppress public unity by distorting the perceived level of concern.
A Wake-Up Call for World Leaders
The research adds to a growing body of evidence that climate concern is mainstream, not niche. In 2024, the UN Development Programme’s People’s Climate Vote found that 80% of respondents worldwide demanded stronger climate action from their leaders.
“People deeply understand we are in a climate emergency,” said Cassie Flynn of the UNDP. “They want world leaders to be bold, because they are living it day to day.”
The message is clear: the world’s people are ready for change. Now it’s up to world leaders to realize they’re not leading a reluctant crowd; they’re leading an eager one.
