In a project co-initiated by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the World Wide Views Alliance has carried out a global consultation quizzing citizens on the issues of climate change and energy.
Beginning at dawn on June 6th, citizens from 76 countries were asked about how far they would go to bring forward energy transition and tackle with climate change.
The event began in the Pacific Islands and ended in the West Coast of the United States at dusk with 10,000 carefully selected citizens taking part. They attended day-long meetings and debates where they were invited to express their views on topics such as greenhouse gases, climate change funding and solutions.
The consultation, called the World Wide Views on Climate Change and Energy, found that almost 80 per cent of those asked were concerned about climate change with two out of three seeing it as an opportunity to improve their quality of life.
With the official COP 21 label, the information from this forum is a key contribution to the negotiation process in the lead up to the Climate Change Conference. The event, set to take place in Paris in December, is where a new international agreement targeting global warming is expected to be agreed upon.
Authors of the World Wide Views report say that such input by global citizens needs to continue as the conference approaches and go beyond that if we are to protect our planet.
“Tackling climate change is not only an issue to be addressed by governments, negotiators, large communities and companies, but above all one that concerns citizens, all citizens. It is essential for global citizens to take part in Paris COP21 negotiations and have their voice be heard at a global level.”
Other key findings include:
• 68 per cent of global citizens think that a Paris agreement should include a global long-term goal to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions at the end of the century that is legally binding for all countries developing and developed countries being at the same level.
• 79 per cent think high-income countries should pay more than the already agreed $100 billion annually by 2020 for mitigation and adaptation in low-income countries.
• 79 per cent of citizens consider that their country should take measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, even if many other countries do not take measures.
More information about the consultation can be found here.