A sweeping new Eurobarometer survey has revealed that a resounding majority of Europeans view climate change as a serious threat and support the European Union’s efforts to confront it, even as political tensions around energy and industrial policy continue to flare across the continent.
The poll, conducted earlier this year and published on Monday, shows that 85% of EU citizens consider climate change a serious problem, with overwhelming backing for the bloc’s long-term goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. Nearly as many (81%) voiced support for that target, suggesting that the EU’s green agenda—though often politically divisive—enjoys deep public legitimacy.
Among the most striking findings was the degree to which Europeans link climate action with broader national interests. 77% believe that the cost of inaction—specifically, damage caused by climate-related disasters—will exceed the investments needed for the transition to a net-zero economy. In other words, doing nothing is now seen by most Europeans as the more expensive option.
This economic realism, combined with mounting personal exposure to environmental risks, appears to be shifting public expectations. Almost four in ten (38%) of Europeans feel personally exposed to climate-related threats—a figure that rises significantly in southern countries such as Spain, Italy, and Greece, as well as in Poland and Hungary. These are regions already struggling with drought, wildfires, and extreme heat.
More than eight in ten respondents (85%) agreed that acting on climate change would improve public health and overall quality of life, while a similar number (83%) said better preparation for climate impacts would enhance everyday wellbeing.
That sense of urgency is being matched by equally strong support for the EU’s clean energy priorities. A full 88% of Europeans believe that the EU should take more action to expand renewable energy, while the same proportion back measures to boost energy efficiency—whether through better home insulation, solar panels, or electric vehicle incentives. Three quarters (75%) said that reducing fossil fuel imports would improve energy security and support Europe’s economic position.
Crucially, 84% of citizens also agreed that European companies should receive more support to compete globally in clean technologies, an endorsement of the European Commission’s flagship “Clean Industrial Deal”. The initiative, which aims to match the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and China’s clean-tech subsidies, is emerging as a cornerstone of the EU’s post-Ukraine war industrial strategy.
Yet while individuals are keen to act—92% of respondents said they had made at least some sustainable choices in their daily lives—most citizens do not see themselves as the main drivers of climate change mitigation. Only 28% believe individual action alone is sufficient, placing far greater responsibility on national governments (66%), the EU (59%), and business and industry (58%). Local and regional governments were also seen as important players, named by 44% of those surveyed.
That expectation of leadership comes at a time when trust in climate information is faltering. While 84% believe climate change is caused by human activity, more than half said they felt traditional media lacked clarity in explaining climate science and policy. On social media, the situation is more precarious still: 49% of respondents said they found it difficult to distinguish between reliable information and disinformation on platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok.
These findings will not be lost on policymakers preparing the EU’s next phase of climate action. The Commission’s assessment of updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), published in May, found that Member States are stepping up their targets—but gaps remain. A forthcoming Climate Adaptation Plan and a proposal to set a binding 2040 target are expected later this year, part of an effort to maintain momentum as public attention drifts toward cost-of-living pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.
The EU has long positioned itself as a global leader in climate policy. But leadership requires legitimacy—and, if the Eurobarometer results are any indication, Brussels has it. The challenge now is to turn public support into durable policy, ensure that rhetoric becomes reality, and deliver a transition that does not leave citizens behind.
As António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, recently put it: “The era of global boiling has begun.” Europeans appear to agree—and they want their leaders to act accordingly.
