NEWS
Epson research reveals focus on climate change
Climate change is seen by the public as a primary threat – on a par with the ongoing financial crisis – according to new research by Epson. Across the world, people are stepping up personal efforts to avert climate change, according to the 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. But data also shows that there are significant variations in confidence levels, driven by factors such as economics and age. 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. But global averages mask regional variations in confidence levels. Optimism is lower in most developed economies, for example, than in emerging ones. The individual country members of the G7 all record levels of optimism significantly below the 48% global average: Canada (36.6%); France (22.5%); Germany (23.8%); Italy (25.2%); Japan (10.4%); the UK (28.4%); and the US (39.4%). Rapidly emerging and fast-growing economies record levels of climate optimism significantly above the global average: China (76.2%); India (78.3%); Indonesia (62.6%); Kenya (76%); Mexico (66%); and the Philippines (71.9%). Yasunori Ogawa, global president of Epson, said: “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 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….” This year alone, disruption has encompassed adverse climate events across every continent, including: decades-long ‘mega-droughts’ in Africa and South America; rapid warming of the Arctic and Antarctic; deadly floods in Asia and Australasia; unprecedented temperatures across the whole of Europe; and vanishing lakes in North America. Unqualified optimism might be seen as wishful thinking, but Epson’s findings show that respondents do recognise the impacts of climate change; 80.2% cite the evidence of their own eyes – witnessing climate change in their daily lives – as the most influential factor in building awareness. Other significant climate information influences include: l 75.7% cite government action and/or campaigns l 75% cite on and offline news l 74.2% cite social media l 64.8% cite business or community campaigns l 64% cite COP conferences This optimism is also being converted into action. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of respondents who have, or plan to walk and/or cycle more has grown from 83.7% to 87.2%, and 31.8% have done so for more than a year. Likewise, the number of those who plan to change to renewable energies has grown from 78.2% to 82.4% and 18.6% have done so for more than a year and those planning to reduce international business and leisure travel has grown from 65.1% to 68.2% and 23% have done so for more than a year. Epson Europe’s director of sustainability, Henning Ohlsson, said: “We have a responsibility to younger generations to ensure that we leave the planet is a better state after decades of damage. “There is no one single solution to this problem, we must all play a role. Governments, corporations and communities all need to pull together to avert this catastrophe. As a global technology leader, our duty is to refocus our efforts on developing solutions which will help reduce the environmental impact of our products. By cooperating and finding solutions, collectively we can all inspire action and bring about change.”
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A survey of 26,205 people across 28 markets suggests that despite increasing climate impacts, climate optimism has grown to over 48%
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