Epson research reveals global attention focuses on climate change despite conflicts and economic woes as people act to avert disaster

October 2022

Epson research reveals global attention focuses on climate change despite conflicts and economic woes as people act to avert disaster
Survey of 26,205 people across 28 markets suggests that despite increasing climate impacts, climate optimism has grown to over 48%

SYDNEY, 4 October 2022 – Across the world, people are stepping up personal efforts to avert climate change, according to the latest findings from Epson’s second Climate Reality Barometer. Epson’s research suggests that while the world economy proves to be a distraction from efforts to address climate challenges, climate change remains a primary concern for many. Despite a year of unprecedented climate impacts, the survey also reveals that people are increasingly optimistic that climate disaster can be averted in their lifetime.

Epson's Climate Reality Barometer

Unsurprisingly, immediate financial issues are people’s main concern. While “fixing the economy” (22%) and “rising prices” (21%) top the list of respondents’ priorities, climate change ranks a very close third (20%). Despite global economic downturn, conflicts and soaring energy bills, the climate crisis remains front of mind for many people around the world. 

Climate concerns, however, aren’t leading to pessimism. Prior to COP 26 in November 2021, 46% of global respondents were optimistic that climate catastrophe could be averted within a lifetime. As the world prepares for COP27 in Egypt this year, optimism has risen to over 48%. This comes despite the impacts of climate change witnessed over the last year, suggesting a ‘reality deficit’ in people potentially misunderstanding the full future impacts of climate change for the world.

Key market findings of the Climate Reality Barometer in Australia
In the past few months, some regions in Australia experienced their worst flooding in decades, as torrential rain submerged residential areas. Climate change is fuelling an increase in extreme weather conditions according to experts, threatening to make floods and droughts more common (source).

• Despite this, nearly half (45.3%) of the people surveyed as part of the Epson Climate Reality Barometer in Australia, believe rising prices and fixing the economy is the most urgent issue governments, companies and people around the world should be focusing on, 23.7% see climate change as the most pressing issue
• Respondents aged 16-24 (23.7%) and 55+ (31.3%) consider climate change a more urgent issue than other age groups surveyed
• Over a third (37.4%) are optimistic that we will avert a climate disaster in their lifetime. On the other hand, (31%) were pessimistic that we will avert a climate disaster in their lifetime
• Younger respondents were also more optimistic than their older counterparts, with (43.4%) of 16-24-year-olds feeling optimistic, while (22.2%) of 45–54-year-olds were pessimistic

Promisingly, many people are already taking action on certain things to mitigate the climate emergency.

In Australia, the top three actions people report that they are already doing, include:

• Improving recycling habits (69.8%)
• Reducing plastic use (66.8%)
• Using more reusable goods (58.5%)

Despite this, there are still a number of gaps in terms of what people are willing to do, which will be important in reaching net zero targets at a global and national level.

• 8.1% have switched to an electric vehicle and nearly a quarter (21.3%) say they will never do this
• Nearly half (41.3%) say they will never adopt a plant-based diet

Yasunori Ogawa, global president of Epson, commented: “Epson’s corporate purpose is focused on improving lives and the planet, and we will devote significant resources to achieve this. As the world gathers for COP27, our Climate Reality Barometer aims to raise awareness and empower transformational change. We hope that the Barometer’s insights will help governments, industries and individuals to step up their efforts to avert climate disaster. While we know there is a long way to go, we believe we can build a better future if we work together and act now.”   

Growing global optimism appears to contradict climate reality. In 2022, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) announced that “Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world.

Environmental scientist and Co-CEO of Change by Degrees, Dr Tara Shine, said: "The harsh reality is that the past seven years have been the warmest on record and we run a real risk of passing safe temperature limits. Yet this survey shows that people across the world remain hopeful that their actions alongside those of government and corporations can transform society for the better. The immediate challenges facing economies around the globe, including rising energy and food prices, are both causes and symptoms of climate change. Planning for the long term and enabling people to take climate action now is the most powerful action countries can take to sustain climate optimism, reduce carbon pollution and build resilience to climate impacts."

Unqualified optimism might be seen as wishful thinking, but Epson’s findings show that respondents do recognise the impacts of climate change. More than eight in 10 people (80.2%) cite the evidence of their own eyes – witnessing climate change in their daily lives – as the most influential factor in building awareness.

It appears that, in 2022, optimism isn’t leading to complacency, but rather spurring people to action.

While individual actions are ramping up, it’s clear that much more needs to be done. Governments need to regulate for sustainability, businesses need to develop sustainable policies and technologies, and individuals need accelerate lifestyle changes – if the world is to meet its climate change targets and avoid irreversible change.   
 
About Epson’s 2022 Climate Reality Barometer:     
Epson’s 2022 Climate Reality Barometer surveyed 26,205 general respondents from the following markets: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UK, USA and Vietnam. Where year on year comparisons are shown, 17,273 consumers in the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, US, Brazil, Australia, China, Singapore, India, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, the UAE, Israel and South Africa (Aged 16+) (06.08.2021 - 04.10.2021).   

Picture credits
Epson’s Second Climate Reality Barometer

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