That Catalonia is one of the areas most affected – currently and in the future – by the consequences of climate change is a reality. While the autonomous community is currently going through a period of emergency due to the drought that is devastating the territory, the AXA Foundation has presented a study in which it analyzes the citizen perception of Catalans regarding climate change. The study shows data such as that in the current context of the lack of rain and supply, half of those surveyed expect civil society to take an active role in facing the climate crisis.
The study prepared by the AXA Foundation in collaboration with Sigma Dos wanted to put special focus on the autonomous community of Catalonia, which shows a higher concern than the national average regarding issues related to climate change.
It is clear that it is becoming more common and less exceptional for devastation to take its toll on any corner of the planet to show that climate change is a reality, in fact, this is what 90% of Catalans think, considering this consequence as the most serious that it brings with it.
On the other hand, the perception of the impact of climate change on aspects of daily life is notable. Thus, the figure for health concern climbs to 80.4% and reaches 74.6% if we talk about consequences on diet.
The lack of economic resources means that up to 25% of Catalan households do not have insurance against extreme weather events, and up to 22% would not know what to do if they were a victim of one of them.
In line with the measures applied against climate change, although the population surveyed considers that environmental factors are decisive when making consumer decisions such as purchasing vehicles or investment decisions, they recognize that the cost of products slows down their willingness to have more sustainable behaviors. This fact is accentuated in the age group under 30 years old, which curiously is the most aware of climate change in Catalonia.
90.4% defend greater use of water in all its forms, from wastewater treatment to rain collection, followed by those who point to reforestation (88.9%) or support for increasing green areas. (87%) in urban areas of cities.
Regarding how they take action on the matter at the domestic level, food waste is in the lead with a percentage of 86.4% and the recycling or reuse of plastic, paper or glass at 78.4%.
