The SPERARE project
Opinion poll
Public awareness of climate security
11.2020–01.2021
In November 2020, a sociological survey on public awareness of climate security was carried out, organized by the Development and Environment Foundation with the support of the SPERARE project together with the Levada Center. The survey was conducted within the framework of the monthly all-Russian survey "Courier" - an omnibus-type survey.
The respondents were asked the following questions and were offered the following answers:
1. Do you know about climate change in the region where you live?
I know it well
I have knowledge of this in general terms
I do not know
2. Have you experienced climate change in your daily life?
Yes
I can't answer defenitely
No
3. Do you know how climate change will affect your life and the lives of your children?
I know it well
I have knowledge of this in general terms
I do not know
4. Do you know what is being done to adapt the society and economy of your region to climate change?
I know it well
I have knowledge of this in general terms
I do not know
5. Do you know what is being done to reduce human impact on climate?
I know it well
I have knowledge of this in general terms
I do not know
6. Do you need more information on the issues that we talked about?
Please choose any number of answers.
Yes, I want to know more about how the climate is changing and will change in the place where I live.
Yes, I want to know more about how climate change will affect my life and the lives of my children.
Yes, I want to know more about what is being done where I live to adapt to climate change.
Yes, I want to know more about what is being done to reduce the human impact on the climate.
Yes, I want to know more about what I can do to protect myself and my loved ones from the negative effects of climate change.
No, I don’t need such information
Survey conclusions
An all-Russian survey has shown that climate change itself has broadly affected Russian society. However, this did not become a topic of public opinion. Russians know almost nothing about climate change and do not know what can and should be known here. None of the proposed questions about climate change and their consequences received any massive answer or aroused any mass interest.
However, the study showed that there are social groups in society that are beginning to show attention to the topics discussed. The position of these groups in society is such that, if their interest is developed and supported, it will provide an incentive for the dissemination of such interest and such knowledge among wider and wider strata.
Of course, a direct appeal through the media to these mass strata with explanations and propaganda of knowledge on this topic is also possible, but separate studies are needed to prepare it. In its current state, the large society is not ready to accept this information.
The detailed results of the survey will be published shortly.
The respondents were asked the following questions and were offered the following answers:
1. Do you know about climate change in the region where you live?
I know it well
I have knowledge of this in general terms
I do not know
2. Have you experienced climate change in your daily life?
Yes
I can't answer defenitely
No
3. Do you know how climate change will affect your life and the lives of your children?
I know it well
I have knowledge of this in general terms
I do not know
4. Do you know what is being done to adapt the society and economy of your region to climate change?
I know it well
I have knowledge of this in general terms
I do not know
5. Do you know what is being done to reduce human impact on climate?
I know it well
I have knowledge of this in general terms
I do not know
6. Do you need more information on the issues that we talked about?
Please choose any number of answers.
Yes, I want to know more about how the climate is changing and will change in the place where I live.
Yes, I want to know more about how climate change will affect my life and the lives of my children.
Yes, I want to know more about what is being done where I live to adapt to climate change.
Yes, I want to know more about what is being done to reduce the human impact on the climate.
Yes, I want to know more about what I can do to protect myself and my loved ones from the negative effects of climate change.
No, I don’t need such information
Survey conclusions
An all-Russian survey has shown that climate change itself has broadly affected Russian society. However, this did not become a topic of public opinion. Russians know almost nothing about climate change and do not know what can and should be known here. None of the proposed questions about climate change and their consequences received any massive answer or aroused any mass interest.
However, the study showed that there are social groups in society that are beginning to show attention to the topics discussed. The position of these groups in society is such that, if their interest is developed and supported, it will provide an incentive for the dissemination of such interest and such knowledge among wider and wider strata.
Of course, a direct appeal through the media to these mass strata with explanations and propaganda of knowledge on this topic is also possible, but separate studies are needed to prepare it. In its current state, the large society is not ready to accept this information.
The detailed results of the survey will be published shortly.
Download press-release (in Russian) (pdf, 135 kb)