A new YouGov survey across six European countries reveals strong public concern about climate change, with 65–83% of respondents worried about the crisis and large majorities favouring international cooperation to tackle it. However, while Europeans broadly support measures such as energy efficiency subsidies, tree planting and taxing major polluters, they are far less willing to accept policies that directly increase personal costs or require significant lifestyle changes. Published ahead of COP31, and reported in the Guardian, the findings highlight the challenge for policymakers of translating widespread climate concern into public support for more ambitious action.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol believes climate change will return to the forefront of the international agenda after two to three years of declining political attention. Speaking ahead of COP31 in Türkiye to Ian Johnston of the Financial Times, he argues that growing energy security concerns and high energy prices are accelerating investment in renewable energy, nuclear power and electric vehicles, bringing energy security and climate objectives into unusually close alignment. Despite recent setbacks in European...