Israelis united on climate crisis, survey reveals ahead of COP29
Concern for climate change crosses political lines, as 77% of Israelis said they were “deeply concerned” about the problem, according to a survey released on Sunday.
The Mount Gilboa Wind Farm on Feb. 22, 2024. Photo by Kobi Richter/TPS-IL
The survey, conducted by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, was presented at the Climate and Democracy Conference at Stanford University, highlights both common ground and subtle political divides in Israel’s approach to climate issues. This comes one day ahead of the 29th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, which begins on Monday.
This relatively narrow gap between right and left in Israel contrasts sharply with the wider polarization seen in other countries, such as the United States. “The small difference between political camps in Israel suggests that climate change has not yet been fully politicized here,” said Tamar Zandberg, former Minister of Environmental Protection and head of the National Institute for Climate and Environmental Policy at Ben Gurion University.
The survey also found that the public overwhelmingly agrees that the climate crisis is driven by human activity. A majority of respondents (77%) expressed concern over increasing air pollution, while 76% worry about the impact of extreme events such as heatwaves, fires, and floods. Additionally, 51% fear the flooding of coastal cities due to rising sea levels. However, despite this widespread acknowledgment of the threat, the survey revealed that many still harbor doubts about the scientific consensus on climate change. Forty percent of respondents believe that the science on climate change is divided, and 62% suspect that economic interests are behind climate change denial.
Despite these concerns, the survey also highlights a gap in public engagement with climate issues. While there is broad recognition of the climate crisis, only a third of respondents are willing to make significant personal changes to help the environment. About 36% are willing to reduce meat consumption, 33% are open to using public transportation more often, and 24% are willing to fly less.
However, just 13% are willing to pay higher taxes to support environmental protection. Zandberg noted that “the public seems more willing to change their habits than policymakers might expect,” suggesting that there is a readiness for more ambitious climate policies if they are clearly articulated.
Trust in science plays a key role in shaping public attitudes toward climate action. The survey found that 63% of respondents place high trust in scientists, while only 14% trust information from social networks. This signals a strong desire for reliable, science-backed information on climate change. Dr. Avner Gross, a climate researcher involved in the survey, emphasized that “this high trust in science presents a unique opportunity to inform the public and shape policies that can have a real impact.”
The survey also highlighted gender differences in concern and willingness to act. Women were found to be more concerned about climate change than men, with 85% of women expressing concern over air pollution compared to 69% of men. Women were also more likely to support policies and make behavioral changes, such as reducing meat consumption and using public transportation.
These findings suggest that Israel’s public is increasingly aware of the dangers posed by climate change and desires more action from their government. However, as Zandberg pointed out, “Governmental policy actions—local, national, and international—require consent, support, and even push from the public.”
Despite being at war for the last year, Israel continues to play a key role in the fight against climate change. The threats of climate change aren’t waiting for the October 7 war to end, and neither is Israel’s climate change sector.
“We have continued to promote our response to climate change in Israel, both in terms of mitigation and adaptation. The fact that there is a war doesn’t mean that we have to decline our duties to continue preparing ourselves in Israel for the eventualities of climate change,” Gideon Behar, Israel’s Ambassador and Special Envoy for Climate Change and Sustainability, told The Press Service of Israel before departing for Baku. “So, continuous work is going on internally in Israel in regard to preparation, adaptation, and also mitigation.”
“The war has affected us in terms of regional cooperation with some of our neighbors. But still, we continue to do our utmost to work and to prepare the ground for regional cooperation,” Behar said.
Behar told TPS-IL his agenda included renewable energy, the Mediterranean’s rising sea level, and showcasing, Israeli climate tech innovations, among other issues.
