The cost of living scares more than climate change

Daily expenses scare Romanians more than environmental issues. According to a new report entitled "State of the Climate - Romania 2024", only 4% of Romanians consider climate change to be the most important issue of our time, compared to 62% of respondents who are concerned about the rising cost of living and inflation. The research reflects a low priority given to climate issues, even though they have become a central global theme.

• Deforestation, the main environmental concern

Regarding environmental issues, deforestation is perceived as the most serious threat by 37% of Romanians, followed by household waste disposal (12%) and air pollution (11%). Climate change ranks only fifth in environmental concerns, with 7% of respondents considering it a priority. Notable differences emerged between men and women regarding the perception of environmental issues. Women tend to be more aware of the impact of human activity on climate change, with 51% of them believing that these changes are caused by humans, compared to 46% of men.

• Perception of the causes and effects of climate change

The report reveals that almost half of Romanians (49%) believe that climate change is caused exclusively by human activity, while 36% believe that it is the combined result of natural and human factors. However, only 17% of respondents anticipate an extremely negative impact on their personal lives, and the average negative perception is lower at national level (2.9 on a scale of 1 to 10) compared to the impact on individual lives (3, 64). Regarding the impact of climate change on the world and future generations, about a third (33%) believe that the world will be greatly affected, and 36% are concerned about the effects on future generations.

• Agriculture, the most exposed field

From the perspective of the impact on different areas influenced by public policies, agriculture is considered the most vulnerable (37%), followed by water supply (29%), economy (24%) and health (22%). These concerns show that Romanians are aware of the indirect effects of climate change on the economy and essential services.

Even if many Romanians do not consider climate change an immediate priority, the majority (68%) declare themselves willing to modify their lifestyle to reduce the negative impact on the environment. In this regard, women (74%) are more inclined to adopt changes than men (60%).

Older generations, especially those born between 1928 and 1964, are less convinced that climate change is caused by human activity. On the other hand, those who have witnessed extreme weather events are more aware of the connection between climate change and human actions.

The report is the result of the work of 11 researchers and includes recent data and climate projections for Romania. It discusses the evolution of extreme weather phenomena, the progress of environmental and energy policies and the attitudes of the population towards the climate crisis. The report also emphasizes the need for urgent actions to combat the effects of climate change and protect the country's natural resources.