- 70% think climate policies will improve their quality of life
- 64% say that the green transition will be a source of economic growth
- 59% believe policies to tackle climate change will create more jobs than they eliminate
- 35% expect to have to move to another region or country in the future because of climate change — this figure increases to 61% among people aged 20-29
These are some of the results from the latest release of the 2021-2022 Climate Survey conducted in September 2021 and published today by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The EIB is the lending arm of the European Union and the world’s largest multilateral lender for climate action projects.
Better quality of life despite less purchasing power
Are policies to tackle climate change good news for the economy? The majority of Spaniards would agree: 64% say the green transition will be a source of economic growth (above the EU average of 56%).
70% of Spanish respondents also believe that their quality of life will improve, with greater convenience in their everyday lives and a positive impact on the quality of their food and their health. Policies that address the climate emergency are also seen as good news for the job market: more than half of Spanish people (59%) believe these will have a net positive impact on employment levels within the country, creating more jobs than they eliminate.
However, a majority (59%) anticipate that their purchasing power will decrease with the green transition.
Migration to other regions and changing jobs
According to Spaniards, the challenges related to climate change are here to stay. While one-third (30%) of respondents believe that the climate emergency will be under control by 2050, 67% fear that this will still be a major issue by mid-century.
When asked about the longer-term impact of the climate crisis, more than one-third of Spanish people (35%) expect to have to move to another region or country because of climate change. This concern is much stronger among people in their twenties, with 61% of them claiming to be worried about the possibility of needing to move due to climate issues.
Long-term lifestyle changes
Spaniards are conscious of the behavioural shifts that are needed to tackle climate change. One-third of respondents (34%) believe that most people will no longer own a car in 20 years and 67% believe that most Spanish people will be working from home to contribute to the fight against climate change. Lastly, one-third (35%) think most people will have adopted a plant-based diet and 60% predict that an energy quota will be allocated to each individual (12 points above the EU average of 48%).
A global comparison: Differences between EU, British, American and Chinese respondents
Overall, Europeans are divided on whether the green transition will be a source of economic growth. More than half of respondents (56%) believe it will be the case, in line with the perception of Americans and British people (57%), while Chinese people are more optimistic (67%). However, the majority of Europeans (61%) are confident that their quality of life will improve, with a positive impact on the quality of their food and their health. Europeans are less pessimistic compared to Chinese people (77%), Americans (65%) and British people (63%).
EIB Vice-President Ricardo Mourinho Félix said: “Spanish people are confident that the green transition will improve their quality of life as well as the job market. But they are also worried about major changes to their way of living due to the long-term effect of climate change. As the EU climate bank, it is our responsibility to work with policymakers and industry partners to address these concerns. In doing so, we can effectively contribute to the twin transition to a greener and prosperous future that leaves no one behind.”
Download the Excel spreadsheet with the raw data for all 30 countries surveyed here. Please click here to access an EIB webpage presenting key findings of the EIB Climate Survey IV.
About the EIB Climate Survey
The European Investment Bank has launched the fourth edition of the EIB Climate Survey, a thorough assessment of how people feel about climate change. Conducted in partnership with market research firm BVA, the fourth edition of the EIB Climate Survey aims to inform the broader debate on attitudes and expectations in terms of climate action. More than 30 000 respondents participated in the survey between 26 August and 22 September 2021, with a representative panel for each of the 30 countries polled.
About the European Investment Bank
The EIB Group has recently adopted its Climate Bank Roadmap to deliver on its ambitious agenda to support €1 trillion of climate action and environmental sustainability investments in the decade to 2030 and to deliver more than 50% of EIB finance for climate action and environmental sustainability by 2025. As part of the roadmap, all new EIB Group operations have been aligned with the goals and principles of the Paris Agreement since the start of 2021.
About BVA
BVA is an opinion research and consulting firm recognised as one of the most innovative market research firms in its sector. Specialised in behavioural marketing, BVA combines data science and social science to make data inspiring and bring it to life. BVA is also a member of the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research (WIN), a global network of some of the world’s leading market research and survey players, with over 40 members.