Mexico City, June 21 (EFE). Eight out of ten Mexicans want their country, one of the world's leading oil producers, to swiftly transition to clean energy, according to a study released this Friday by the United Nations. The report, "People's Vote on Climate 2024," indicates that in eight of the ten largest oil-producing countries surveyed, the majority support a rapid energy transition, with Mexico ranking second at 83%, following Nigeria at 89%.
Among G20 countries, Mexico stands out, with 95% of its population believing that nations should collaborate on climate issues, even if they have disagreements on other matters like trade or security, compared to a global average of 84%. The UN highlights that "the magnitude of this consensus is particularly striking in the current global context of rising conflicts and nationalism."
The report also notes that 88% of Mexicans believe their government should strengthen commitments to address the climate crisis, whereas globally, 80% of people want their countries to take more decisive actions. Regarding Mexico's updated commitments under the Paris Agreement, the UN report reminds that the country aims for a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, the end of the next administration under future President Claudia Sheinbaum, set to begin on October 1.
Mexicans also exhibit higher levels of "climate anxiety," with 88% stating that major life decisions are being affected by climate change, followed by India (80%) and South Korea (78%). Additionally, 77% of Mexicans are more concerned about climate change this year compared to last, one of the highest increases globally, with the average at 53%.
Furthermore, 52% of Mexicans think about climate change regularly, either daily or weekly, and 67% have experienced worse extreme weather conditions than usual.
The UN emphasized in a statement the term "climate anxiety," increasingly used to describe the growing concern over the environmental crisis.
Cassie Flynn, Director of Climate Change at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), noted that the survey included voices from around the world, "including traditionally harder-to-survey groups," and that "in nine of the 77 countries surveyed, people had never been asked about climate change before."
"As world leaders decide on the next round of commitments under the Paris Agreement for 2025, these results are undeniable proof that people worldwide support bold climate action," she emphasized.
