More than seven in 10 people (72%) across 18 G20 countries support penalising actions that cause significant environmental or climate damage, according to the latest “Global Commons Survey 2024” commissioned by Earth4All and the Global Commons Alliance (GCA) and carried out by Ipsos UK.
The survey results, published on Friday, come at a time when some countries – like Belgium – have made significant legislative advancements to make ecocide a criminal offence. Others, including Brazil, Italy, Mexico and Peru, are poised to follow suit.
The poll also highlighted that 59% of respondents were “extremely concerned” about the current state of nature. Nearly one in seven acknowledges that Earth is approaching tipping points tied to climate and environmental changes, primarily due to human activities.
Furthermore, people in emerging countries, such as India, China and Indonesia, felt more personally exposed to climate change than their counterparts in Europe or the United States.
Lastly, the survey of 1,000 people found that women felt more affected by environmental state and future generations than men. Women were also less likely to believe technology could solve environmental problems without major lifestyle shifts.
