A new worldwide survey on climate change shows nearly 80 percent of people are ‘very concerned’ about the impact of global warming, and they say all nations should do their part to stop it.
The poll was taken in 79 countries by a group calling itself World Wide Views on Climate and Energy.
Ten thousand citizens met simultaneously on Saturday to debate climate change and take the survey. Organizers say it was the largest-ever global citizens meeting on the issue.
Among the results of the poll - 79 percent say they are ‘very concerned’ about the impacts of climate change, and 71 percent say years of U.N. negotiations have done little to tackle the problem.
Seventy percent say fighting global warming is a global responsibility that requires an international treaty, but 80 percent said their home countries should take steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions, even if other nations do not.
Nearly half of those asked believe the world should give up exploring for fossil fuel reserves, such as oil and coal - two of the chief sources of pollution.
Results of the poll will be sent to a U.N. meeting in Bonn later this week that will draw up a framework agreement ahead of a climate change summit in Paris in December.
Scientists say a warmer planet will cause polar ice caps to melt, driving up sea levels, flooding coastal areas and wiping out some smaller island nations.
Some parts of the world could see stronger storms and floods while others would experience persistent droughts.