Six out of ten Swedes are critical of the government’s climate work

New survey: Majority worried about climate change

Six out of ten Swedes are worried about climate change – and almost as many believe that the government is not doing enough.

A quarter is already affected by the extreme weather.

This is shown by a Novus survey commissioned by Wateraid.

Ahead of COP29, which starts in Baku in Azerbaijan today, Wateraid has investigated how Swedes feel about climate change.

According to the survey, 62 percent of Swedes feel concerned that climate change is increasing in Sweden and 13 percent feel a very high degree of concern.

Almost one in four, 22 percent, state in the survey that extreme weather affects their lives today. Only 16 percent say that climate change does not affect them at all.

– The survey shows that the climate crisis, and especially the water crisis, is something that Swedes take very seriously. It is clear that people don’t just see the problems – they feel them in their everyday lives, says Anna Nilsdotter, Secretary General of WaterAid, in a press release.

Women are significantly more worried than men, especially women aged 35–49 and 65–84. Over 70 percent of women in these age groups feel strong anxiety. Only 48 percent of the men surveyed feel the same level of concern.

A majority of those questioned, 59 percent, think that Sweden’s government is doing too little to counteract climate change.

– The extreme weather is becoming more and more common. The climate crisis is fundamentally a water crisis and the government must prioritize efforts for the most vulnerable. Water is a human right and absolutely essential for our survival. This must be reflected in Swedish aid and climate policy, not least during COP29, says Anna Nilsdotter.