Climate Change a Key Factor in Decision-Making for 2020

According to the European Investment Bank (EIB), Europeans, Chinese and Americans all intend to make climate change a large priority when making decisions in their daily lives for 2020.

The EIB Climate Survey, released Tuesday, asked a total of 30,000 people from 28 European Union countries, along with the United States and China, questions surrounding how climate change will affect their decision-making. Questions ranged from whether people will take more trains instead of planes, use fewer products wrapped in plastic or participate in more protests and marches for climate change in 2020.

Chinese respondents led the survey in overall climate change awareness, with high percentages saying they intend to be more conscious about certain decisions for the new year. 98 percent of Chinese respondents said they would buy fewer plastic products, and an enormous 95 percent said they would boycott companies that contribute heavily to global warming. Historically, China has been a leader in carbon emissions for the planet but has quickly begun taking initiatives in environmental protection and air pollution in the last few years.

European countries, often touted as leaders in climate change policy, saw similar responses for buying fewer plastic products with 93 percent of respondents from the EU saying they intend to do so in 2020. The U.S. lagged behind at 81 percent, with 69 percent saying they intend to fly less this year to minimize their carbon footprint.