The French Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion has commissioned Harris Interactive to carry out a study on the French people’s perception of adaptation to climate change. The study revealed a high level of awareness of environmental issues, but also a less-than-perfect level of information on the subject.
The survey was conducted online from January 5 to 9, 2024. For the occasion, a panel of 2037 people was interviewed.
“While purchasing power is clearly the main concern of the French, global warming emerges in second place, ahead of insecurity and the healthcare system,” comments Harris Interactive. “In detail, it appears more as a major issue within certain categories of the population: the over-35s, the French with the highest incomes or the most highly educated. Overall, 43% of those surveyed rank the environment as one of the five issues that concern them most.”
More specifically, 86% feel some form of danger in the face of natural disruption. Only 14% are not concerned at all.
Seven out of ten French people say they have personally noticed the effects of climate change in recent years around their homes.
“While more than half of French people claim to be well informed on the subject, the level of information is still quite low for many of them (39%).”
The need to change habits
“Almost all French people believe that it is important to take action to adapt to climate change, and more than half even think that it is a priority for the …
