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    The European Investment Bank has launched the second edition of the EIB climate survey. The findings are particularly relevant at a time when climate is one of the top priorities in the EU’s agenda, and following the EIB’s adoption of a new, fossil-fuel free energy lending policy and a new climate roadmap.

    Conducted in partnership with market research firm BVA, the survey aims to inform the broader debate on citizens’ attitudes and expectations in terms of climate action in the European Union, the United States and China.

    I’m thrilled to see the level of commitment of European citizens in our common fight against climate change. Individual climate actions set the social and economic trends of our societies that will help tackle climate change”, Vice-President Emma Navarro

    Discover below some of the key findings from the second of three releases of this worldwide EIB climate survey.

    Transportation

    Adopting more environmentally friendly means of transportation

    64% of Europeans appear ready to opt for public transport for environmental purposes over driving. In comparison, 93% of Chinese citizens and just 49% of Americans say they are already opting for this behaviour. Within the European Union, Eastern Europe stands out for its high use of public transport. Additionally, the survey finds that while only 3% of Europeans and 5% of Americans say they have replaced their car with an electric model, 26% of Chinese respondents state they have already done so.

     

    When it comes to air transportation, 36% of Europeans say they already fly less for holidays to fight climate change, and 75% of Europeans intend to do so in 2020. This figure increases to 94% in China, but is only 69% in the United States of America. People in the European Union, especially Croatia, Slovakia and Germany are particularly committed to flying less and travelling more by train.

     

    Home and consumption

    New Year’s resolutions on home heating and climate-conscious consumption

    91% of Chinese citizens say they intend to heat their home less to fight climate change compared to 78% of Europeans and 75% of Americans. Other differences appear when it comes to environmental actions at home: more than 94% of Chinese citizens intend to or have already switched to a green energy provider, compared to 70% of Europeans and 64% of Americans.

    With regard to climate-conscious consumption and investment, respondents in Europe and in the US are less inclined to engage than their Chinese counterparts. 86% of the population in China say they intend to invest in green funds in 2020 compared to 56% in the US and 52% in Europe. Eastern European countries and the Baltic States in particular are the least inclined to boycott heavily polluting brands.

    Find out more about citizens’ commitment towards climate change in the following countries

    80% of Germans are ready to fly less

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    Across all regions of Germany, people are willing to adjust their lifestyle to fight climate change, but to varying degrees. The survey notably finds that 80% of Germans are ready to fly less for holidays. In addition, 63% of respondents heat their home less in winter for environmental purposes, and 85% of Germans aged 15-29 would boycott companies or brands that contribute heavily to global warming.

    When it comes to environmentally friendly transport, Germans lag behind other European countries. While 72% of Germans say they commute on foot or by bicycle to fight climate change, compared to 76% of Europeans who do the same, only 55% choose public transport over cars, which is lower than the European average of 64%.

    73% of Poles intend to choose public transport over cars to fight climate change, 33% already doing so

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    Overall, the Polish population is willing to adjust its lifestyle to help tackle climate change. The survey reveals that 73% of Poles intend to choose public transport over driving for environmental purposes. 96% of respondents also plan to buy local and seasonal products in 2020.

    69% of Poles say they are heating their home less in winter for environmental purposes and an additional 8% of the population intends to do so. Poland is lagging behind in Europe when it comes to green energy: only 10% of the population has switched to a green energy provider at home, compared to an average of 25% in Europe. However, 51% of Poles say they intend to take this step in the coming months.

    Spaniards have ambitious New Year’s resolutions to fight against climate change

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    Spaniards are willing to make more of an effort to adjust their lifestyle to fight climate change than the rest of Europe. According to the findings of the survey, 95% of Spaniards aim to buy fewer plastic products, while 78% of the respondents intend to fly less for environmental purposes. 74% of Spaniards also appear ready to use less air conditioning in their homes.

    78% of Spanish citizens say they would boycott companies or brands that contribute heavily to global warming. Investing in green funds is also popular in Spain: about 60% of the population says they are planning to take this step, which is 8 points higher than the European average of 52%. Meanwhile, 75% of the Spanish population has taken or will take part in climate demonstrations, 19 points higher than the European average (56%). This figure reaches 83% for Spaniards aged 15-29.

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