The way Russians would respond to climate change is planting new trees rather than paying new taxes under environmental slogans.
MOSCOW, September 30, 2020 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a study devoted to climate change and the measures that Russians are going to take to stop global warming.
An overwhelming majority of Russians (93%) consider that the climate has been changing on the planet over the recent years; they are mainly rural area residents (96%). More than half of them (57%) say these changes have impacted their life (62% of rural area residents).
At the same time, 40% of adult Russians believe that the problem of global warming is overblown and exaggerated; they are opposed by 52% of those who think that global warming is a serious problem.
A majority (from 62% to 76%) of Russians are not ready to pay more for goods and services, even if this money is spent on new energy sources and energy-efficient infrastructure.
A vast majority of Russians support and would willingly take part in an initiative to plant trees aimed to cut carbon emissions (94%). Two-thirds of respondents (68%) explain that the EU introduced an environmental tax for the Russian companies in order to get additional money and finance the EU infrastructure maintenance. Only one out of five Russians (19%) views this initiative as a striving to take care of the planet; those who think so are mainly young Russians aged 18-24 (44%).
Russian VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on September 26, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone number was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
In your opinion, has the Earth's climate changed over the recent years? (% of total respondents; closed-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St Petersburg | Million-plus cities | 500-950,000 inhabitants | 100–500,000 inhabitants | <100,000 | Rural area |
Yes, there have been considerable changes | 58 | 63 | 55 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 66 |
There have been certain climate changes | 35 | 31 | 41 | 37 | 38 | 38 | 30 |
There have been no climate changes | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
Don’t know | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
In your opinion, has the climate change impacted your life, your family? (% of those who say there has been climate change; closed-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St Petersburg | Million-plus cities | 500-950,000 inhabitants | 100–500,000 inhabitants | <100,000 | Rural area |
Yes, considerably | 18 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 26 |
Yes, slightly | 39 | 41 | 41 | 43 | 42 | 37 | 36 |
No impact | 42 | 43 | 45 | 36 | 44 | 44 | 37 |
Don’t know | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Are you ready to pay more money for the following goods and services in case you are sure that your money is spent on the introduction of alternative energy sources and energy-efficient infrastructure? (% of total respondents; closed-ended question, one answer per each position) | |||||
| Fuel (petrol, gas, diesel fuel) | Utility bills or house/apartment maintenance | Electricity | Car | Public transport |
I am ready to pay twice as much | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
I am ready to pay half as much | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
I am ready to pay 30% more | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
I am ready to pay about 15% more | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
I am ready to pay about 5% more | 8 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 |
I am not ready to pay more | 76 | 74 | 69 | 66 | 62 |
Don’t know | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 |
If a tree planting action took place in your city, would you take part in it? (% of total respondents; closed-ended question, one answer) | |
| Total respondents |
Yes | 94 |
No | 6 |
The European Union is going to introduce a carbon border tax to make the Russian companies pay additional environmental tax on the Russian goods imported to Europe. Which statement do you most agree with? (% of total respondents; closed-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
EU pays attention to environmental issues and aims to fight climate change | 19 | 44 | 25 | 16 | 15 | 12 |
EU wants to get money from Russia to cover the costs of the EU infrastructure | 68 | 39 | 58 | 73 | 74 | 74 |
Don’t know | 13 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 14 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.