COP29
Outcomes, implications
and public perceptions
of the climate threat
December 2024
Analysis to mark the COP29 Outcomes Forum,
hosted at Bush House, King’s College London
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COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
3
Foreword
The Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE
Chair, Climate Action Coalition
The COP Outcomes Forum provides a unique opportunity in the climate policy calendar to
reflect and look backwards at the outcome of one COP, at the same time as look forward to
the future, and outline the expectations for the forthcoming year and the COP ahead. The
Outcomes Forum meets this year for its second year, with its purpose of bringing not just the
climate community in London together, but the ambassadorial community for which the
UK’s capital city provides an equally unique opportunity to engage with the experiences and
expectations of those countries represented at COPs.
This year’s COP Outcomes Forum looks both back at the achievements of COP29 in
Azerbaijan, at the same time as looking forward to the opportunities of COP30 in Belem,
Brazil. Of course, it is important to recognise that Azerbaijan’s Presidency of COP29 did not
end with the conclusion of the formal proceedings of the UNFCCC meeting: Azerbaijan’s
Presidency has indeed just begun, and with it come the joint responsibilities and opportunities
to demonstrate why climate action remains vital.
The COP Outcomes Forum 2024 brings together not only panel discussions to focus on both
what has been achieved, and what will need to be achieved in 2025; keynote speeches from
the IPCC Chair Sir Jim Skea, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia
Scotland, and the former Executive Secretary of the UNFCC, Patricia Espinosa, provide an
unrivalled perspective on the outcome of COP29 and the potential of COP30 from leading
figures in the scientific world, the intergovernmental ecosystem of nations most likely to be
affected by climate change, and the UN itself.
The key announcements of COP29, including the New Collective Quantified Goal on
climate finance of $1.3 trillion annually to be spent by 2035, including $300 billion annually
for developing countries, and the agreement to Articles 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris Rule Book
are perhaps what COP29 will be remembered for. Yet many other initiatives outside the
formal UNFCCC process were either agreed or begun, that highlight the opportunity that the
convening power COP can deliver, ensuring that it is a gathering greater than the sum of its
parts. For the UK, this included further announcements on the Global Clean Power Alliance,
with potential partnership work with Brazil, and the publication of a new ambitious National
Determined Contribution of 81% emissions reduction by 2035 on 1990 levels.
In between COP29 and COP30, other countries will also be required to publish their new,
revised, NDCs 3.0 to be formally agreed at Belém in November 2025. These are due to be
submitted in February 2025, and will likely be the critical moment of reckoning for climate
policy next year.
Whether all countries who have previously submitted NDCs at COP26 in Glasgow will
continue to do so for COP30 in Brazil is a different matter. COP29 took place against the
backdrop of the US Presidential election, where climate related policy had been a clear
dividing line between parties. With President-elect Trump having confirmed that he intends
to pull the USA once more out of the Paris Agreement, any agreed outcome at COP29 was
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
4
going to be foreshadowed by the potential lack of future participation by both the largest
investor in green and clean technologies and the largest emitter of carbon dioxide emissions.
Without US involvement in the Paris process, and with others such as Argentina pulling their
delegation from the COP talks, the future outcomes of COP hang in the balance. Yet a deal at
COP29 was better than no deal: globally, countries recognise not only the vital importance of
taking climate action to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change, and adapt to existing
warming, they also understand that there is no turning back on the energy transition. Solar
power is expanding exponentially, at the same time as the costs of renewable technologies
coming down sharply to be cost-competitive with fossil fuels. China, having previously
announced that it would be net zero in 2060, is now on track to deliver net zero by 2050.
Neither net zero, nor the energy transition, nor indeed wider climate action will be delivered
by talks and negotiation alone. COPs provide direction, inspiration and influence, yet the
delivery and implementation of policy lies with national governments, business, industry and
the establishment of new net zero markets. It was for this reason that Secretary John Kerry
launched the Climate Action Coalition earlier this year at the Guildhall at London Climate
Action Week, in order to focus on real world, real economy, solutions to deliver recognisable
and achievable solutions at scale to meet our climate commitments, not for 2050 but also for
meeting the trebling of renewables and doubling of energy efficiency measures as set out at
COP28 in Dubai.
Having already held meetings with Germany’s Climate Envoy Secretary Jennifer Morgan,
and Catherine McKenna, Chair of the UN Director General’s Net Zero Taskforce,
the Climate Action Coalition focused its attention at COP29 on this real-time delivery
opportunity: we held roundtables with Vanessa Chan, the US Department of Energy’s
Director of Commercialisation, Chris Stark, the Head of UK Mission Control, tasked with
delivering the UK’s net zero power mission by 2030, and Simon McWhirter, the Deputy
CEO of the UK Green Building Council and now co-chair of the Built Environment
Taskforce of the Climate Action Coalition.
The importance of demonstrating not only why climate action needs to be taken, but what
can and should be done now to make that action a reality will be a central mission of the
Climate Action Coalition. Yet this cannot be delivered without both public acceptance and
support for the energy transition and the opportunities that decarbonisation can bring.
With the recent political developments in the US in mind, new polling conducted by Ipsos on
behalf of King’s College London and the Climate Action Coalition, comparing the views and
perceptions of members of the public both in the UK and the US- the first of its kind since the
US Presidential Election- reveals important difference yet also similarities between the public
perception and experience of the energy transition, that provides useful reflections for policy
makers tasked with building support for net zero and the energy transition.
The polling was conducted in the UK between 16-17 November 2024, through contact
with 1,072 people aged 18-75. This was compared to a similar poll conducted between 7-9
December 2023, on 1,083 people aged 18-75. US base: 1,031 people aged 18+, 16–17 Nov
2024. We have published the findings of the polling in the report, Climate change Perceptions
of the problem and the progress being made in Britain and the US.
Most striking, perhaps, is the fact that in the UK, the percentage stating that climate change
is the single most important problem facing the country, or one of the most important
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
5
problems, has risen between 2023 and 2024 from 46% to 52%. At the same time however,
the percentage of respondents stating that climate change is not important at all has risen
from 5% to 8%. In contrast, in the US, where only 2024 data is available, the combined
percentage of respondents stating that climate change is either the single most important
problem or one of the most important problems is 39%, some 13 percentage points lower than
the UK. Equally, 21% of US respondents believe that climate change is either not important
at all, or not very important, compared to 14% in the UK.
The discrepancy in public opinion between the US and the UK is also striking when
analysing the perception of climate change among supporters of political parties. In the UK,
Labour voters are most likely to consider climate change as either the most or one of the most
important problems, totalling 64% of Labour voters, though still 47% of Conservative voters
also consider climate change the most or one of the most important problems also. Nearly a
third of Reform voters, 32%, however, consider climate change not to be important at all,
in stark contrast to 1% of Labour voters and 9% of Conservative voters. This is the highest
proportion of any political party in the UK or in the US- where 17% of Republican voters
consider climate change not an important issue. Yet still, of Reform voters, nearly a quarter,
24%, consider climate change to be the most important or one of the most important issues
facing the UK.
For the US, the divides between the two mainstream parties are even more polarised and
stark. 66% of Democrat voters consider climate change the most important or one of the most
important problems, compared to 15% of Republican voters: in contrast, 40% of Republican
voters believe that climate change is not important at all or not very important. While the
polling points to these important distinguishing factors between the UK and the US, there are
also interesting areas of commonality: in both countries, women are twice as likely to consider
climate change an important issue; in both countries there is also a significant minority
(18% in US and 15% in UK) that consider the effects of climate change to have been overexaggerated;
in both countries also, more people are pessimistic rather than hopeful that we
can combat climate change, though in the UK, more people are both more hopeful and more
pessimistic than the US, where there is a larger number of those uncertain.
The polling also provides a fascinating insight into what will drive people to make changes
to deliver climate action and emissions reduction: in both the UK and the US, potential
cost savings feature prominently as the number one driver of what would influence people
to adapt, with 47% of those polled in the UK and 42% in the US highlighting this as a
priority. Practicality and better information about how to implement changes featured more
prominently in the UK compared to the US- 37% compared to 30%- yet what also united
both countries was the agreement that celebrity or public figures being involved in advocating
for climate action had the least possible impact on people’s decisions: 10% in the UK
considered that this would influence their decisions, compared to 4% in the US.
What is clear from the polling released today is that both in the UK and the US, while there
is a risk of increased polarisation on climate change issues, in particular with 55% of those
polled who believed they received too much information on climate change agreed that
climate change is being used to put forward a political agenda, compared with 45% in the
UK, there also remains uncertainty about the future, and a willingness for further action.
I hope that the more detailed findings from this polling can be utilised by policy makers
to better understand how to work with, and not against, the grain of public attitudes and
opinion, to ensure that there can be greater understanding of how net zero and the energy
transition can and will be an opportunity and not a cost.
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
6
Already it seems that 2024 will be the warmest year on record: beating only the previous
record set in 2023. Global temperature rises are currently 1.7% above pre-industrial levels,
and while it will not be confirmed until the end of the decade, it seems that the hope of
limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees centigrade as set out in the Paris Agreement is fading
fast.
2025 will mark the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, a year in which all nations will
need to step up their ambition to deliver if we are to hope to keep global temperatures even
beneath 2 degrees also set out in the Agreement. Yet hope is not a strategy, while ambition
remains just words on a page: what matters is action, action that can only be delivered
and implemented across all nations, day in day out: as another COP ends, the hard work
continues now across governments, across business and across borders, taking people with us
and building the coalitions we need for the future.
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
7
COP29: Outcomes and implications
David Carlin
Visiting Research Fellow, King’s Business School
Climate action at a crossroads
With global temperatures nearing 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels this year, COP29 in Baku,
Azerbaijan, arrived at a pivotal moment in our fight against climate change. Delegates from
nearly 200 nations gathered to make progress on scaling climate finance, reducing fossil fuel
usage, and operationalising key aspects of the Paris Climate Agreement.
After a marathon set of negotiations over two weeks, the final text reflects some incremental
progress in climate finance commitments, carbon market structures, and transparency.
However, as the world races towards dangerous levels of warming, incrementalism is no longer
enough.
From the modest increase in funding for developing nations to the inability to progress on
phasing out fossil fuels, Baku fell short of the transformative agreement hoped for by many
climate campaigners. This briefing dives into the final texts and provides a primer on what
was agreed, what remained unresolved, and where the world goes from here, with a critical
COP30 looming in 2025.
Climate finance: a $300 billion ‘core’ commitment
As expected, climate finance was a central theme at COP29, which many billed as the
‘Finance COP’. Parties arrived in Baku with the aim of agreeing to a New Collective
Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance. The prior goal was set over a decade ago and
promised $100 billion in climate finance from developed nations to developing ones. However,
it took years for this number to be reached, and when it was, much of the finance took the
form of market-rate mechanisms that increased indebtedness in developing nations.
In the final hours of COP29 debates raged over what the new commitment would be from
developed nations. At one point, many developing nations walked out in protest. For a time,
it seemed that a deal might not be reached at all. Yet, by the end of COP29, the delegates
salvaged a deal to increase climate finance from developed nations to $300 billion annually by
2035. This marks a fraction of the trillions needed by developing nations to meet their climate
mitigation and adaptation needs, but it is a step forward.
While the final text also referenced a broader ambition to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually
from all sources by 2035, including private finance, the mechanisms for achieving this remain
vague. The recognition of private finance as critical to scaling up climate action is promising,
but without clearer strategies for mobilisation, the gap between pledges and implementation
will persist.
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
8
Fossil fuels: ambiguity and missed opportunities
While stronger language around the transition from fossil fuels made its way into draft
texts, the final text was little changed from that agreed upon at COP28 in Dubai. That text
referred to the ‘phase-down of unabated coal power’ and ‘phasing-down inefficient fossil fuel
subsidies’. Activists and vulnerable nations were understandably livid at the failure to garner
stronger commitments on the reduction of fossil fuel use, noting that, after 29 COPs, fossil
fuels are barely referenced despite being the primary driver of global emissions.
This failure to address fossil fuels underscores the disconnect between the urgency of the
climate crisis and the incremental nature of international negotiations such as the COP
process.
Adaptation and loss and damage: progress and gaps
At COP29, adaptation was a contentious yet central area of discussion. The conference put
significant focus on operationalising the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), established to
guide countries in protecting people and ecosystems from the impacts of climate change.
COP28 in Dubai had launched the UAE-Belém framework, a two-year work programme
featuring thematic targets from water security to preserving cultural heritage. The framework
also included a mandate to develop indicators for measuring adaptation progress.
COP29 represented the halfway point of this programme, but negotiations underscored
the deep divisions among parties. A critical sticking point was the inclusion of indicators
for ‘means of implementation’ (MOI), widely interpreted as referring to adaptation finance
expectations. Developed nations challenged the MOI language, and in the final text it was
softened to include ‘enabling factors for the implementation of adaptation’.
Progress was also made on operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund, with initial
disbursements expected by mid-2025. The fund was established at COP28 to provide climate
disaster relief for vulnerable nations. However, the agreed New Collective Quantitative Goal
(NCQG) does not include money for the Loss and Damage Fund, leaving developing nations
questioning how sufficient resources will be secured. In the words of UN Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres, current loss and damage commitments do not ‘come close to righting the
wrong inflicted on the vulnerable’.
While these outcomes reflect progress, they also highlight the need for greater ambition.
Adaptation finance and support for loss and damage must be scaled up to address the growing
challenges faced by the most vulnerable nations.
Carbon markets: a boost for credibility
Carbon markets, governed under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, were a bright spot at
COP29. Delegates finalised guidance for Article 6.2, which covers country-to-country
emissions trading approaches, referred to as internationally transferred mitigation outcomes
(ITMOs). The final text clarifies the use of ITMOs and prevents double-counting of
emissions reductions.
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
9
Delegates also reached a consensus on implementing Article 6.4, which governs international
carbon markets. The EU referred to the agreement as the ‘rulebook on carbon markets’, and
it should go a long way toward rebuilding trust in carbon markets, which have been rocked by
credibility issues in recent years. COP29 created a UN-backed framework for carbon markets
and credits to follow that is aligned with ‘the best available science’.
These agreements are expected to drive more funding into carbon markets, supporting
conservation efforts, nature-based solutions, and carbon storage initiatives. However, experts
caution that robust enforcement mechanisms will be essential to maintain the integrity of
these markets.
Wins on transparency and accountability
COP29 marked another win for transparency, with enhanced reporting requirements for
emissions, climate finance, and adaptation progress. Several nations submitted their first
Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), offering detailed insights into their emissions
trajectories and efforts to meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which
are country-specific commitments under the Paris Agreement for emissions reductions.
This focus on transparency aligns with pre-summit calls from public, private, and civil society
actors for more robust reporting frameworks. These measures are critical to ensuring progress
on climate goals and ensuring that market and governmental actors have the information they
need to make informed decisions about climate finance.
Looking ahead: COP30 in Belém
As the stage shifts to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the coming year will be critical for translating
commitments made at COP29 into action. At the national level, the central focus of COP30
will be the submission of updated NDCs. While a few countries have already submitted their
targets, most nations will do so in the months ahead.
Some hopeful signs have come from host nation Brazil, which committed to a 66% reduction
in emissions by 2035 from 2005 levels, and the UK, which has pledged an 81% reduction
by 2035 from 1990 levels. These targets are promising, but their success will depend on clear
sectoral strategies and financing mechanisms to support implementation.
COP30 offers a critical opportunity to bridge the gap between ambition and action,
particularly as the $300 billion NCQG begins to take shape. Ensuring these financial
commitments translate into tangible progress on adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage
will be key to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.
From incrementalism to transformative change
COP29 saw progress on increasing climate finance commitments, operationalising adaptation
frameworks, and strengthening carbon markets and transparency. Yet, the summit also
highlighted the enduring challenges of confronting climate change in a polarised world. The
election of Donald Trump in the United States will be a blow to international collaboration on
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
10
climate in the years to come, as he has pledged to once again withdraw America, the world’s
largest economy and second largest emitter, from the Paris Agreement.
The climate crisis demands systemic change, and the COP process appears incapable of
delivering it. Limitations include the need for unanimous agreements, outdated developed
and developing country classifications, and an overly broad agenda. Until these issues are
addressed, climate change will continue to outpace climate progress. Leaders such as former
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and former UN climate chief Christiana Figuerres have
joined the chorus calling for COP reform.
Hopefully the updated national climate pledges (NDCs) released in the months ahead will
spur more transformative change ahead of COP30. However, without concerted action, the
window on 1.5°C is likely to close for good.
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
11
Climate change: perceptions of the
problem and the progress being
made in Britain and the US
1. Climate change: perceptions of the scale of the problem
Compared to all the other problems facing the UK/US, would you say that climate change is…
52% of Britons say climate change is at least one of the most important problems the country is
facing – compared with 39% who say the same in the US
GB base: 1,072 people aged 18-75, 15–17 Nov 2024, and 1,083 people aged 18-75, 7–9 Dec 2023. US base: 1,031 people aged 18+, 15–17 Nov 2024 4
7%
7%
39%
45%
39%
32%
3%
2%
7%
6%
5%
8%
2023
2024
The single most
important problem
One of the most
important problems
Important, but not the
most urgent problem
Not sure Not very
important
Not at all
important
GB
US 3% 36% 33% 6% 12% 9%2024
Compared to all the other problems facing the UK/US, would you say that climate change is…
Labour and Conservative voters are much less divided than Democrats and Republicans on the
importance of climate change, while Reform UK voters are least likely to see it as a problem in Britain
6%
7%
7%
7%
18%
40%
57%
45%
29%
35%
29%
32%
1%
1%
2%
15%
9%
3%
6%
32%
9%
3%
8%
Reform UK
Conservative
Labour
Overall
The single most
important problem
One of the most
important problems
Important, but not the
most urgent problem
Not sure Not very
important
Not at all
important
6%
7%
7%
7%
18%
40%
57%
45%
29%
35%
29%
32%
1%
1%
2%
15%
9%
3%
6%
32%
9%
3%
8%
Reform UK
Conservative
Labour
Overall
1%
4%
3%
14%
62%
36%
42%
26%
33%
3%
5%
6%
23%
2%
12%
17%
1%
9%
Republican
Democrat
Overall
Overall
Overall
GB* US
5GB base: Labour (369), Conservative (133), Reform UK (111) aged 18-75, 15–17 Nov 2024. US base: Democrat (346), Republican (318), aged 18+, 15–17 Nov 2024
*Other parties not included due to sample size
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
12
2. Optimism, pessimism and progress
Thinking about all the information you see on climate change, overall, which of the following, if any, is closest to how you feel from seeing this information?
In both Britain and the US, people are slightly more optimistic than pessimistic that we can stop the
effects of climate change – but a notable minority in both nations feel the threat is exaggerated
7
33%
40%
17%
5%
7%
5%
25%
34%
18%
15%
US
GB
Hopeful that we can stop the
effects of climate change
Don’t
know
None of
these
Pessimistic that we can stop
the effects of climate change
That the threat of climate
change is exaggerated
GB base: 1,072 people aged 18-75, 15–17 Nov 2024. US base: 1,031 people aged 18+, 15–17 Nov 2024
Thinking about all the information you see on climate change, overall, which of the following, if any, is closest to how you feel from seeing this information?
There is a much bigger partisan divide between supporters of the two main parties in the US than in
Britain, while Reform UK voters are by far the most climate-sceptical in Britain
8
40% 5% 5% 34% 15%Overall
Hopeful that we can stop the
effects of climate change
Don’t
know
None of
these
Pessimistic that we can stop
the effects of climate change
That the threat of climate
change is exaggerated
20%
40%
44%
40%
3%
4%
4%
5%
9%
4%
2%
5%
24%
33%
41%
34%
44%
19%
9%
15%
Reform UK
Conservative
Labour
Overall
23%
46%
33%
16%
14%
17%
9%
2%
7%
15%
36%
25%
37%
1%
18%
Republican
Democrat
Overall
GB* US
Overall
Overall
GB base: Labour (369), Conservative (133), Reform UK (111) aged 18-75, 15–17 Nov 2024. US base: Democrat (346), Republican (318), aged 18+, 15–17 Nov 2024
*Other parties not included due to sample size
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
13
Thinking about all the information you see on climate change, overall, which of the following, if any, is closest to how you feel from seeing this information?
In both countries, men are around twice as likely as women to say the threat of climate change is
exaggerated
9
40% 5% 5% 34% 15%Overall
Hopeful that we can stop the
effects of climate change
Don’t
know
None of
these
Pessimistic that we can stop
the effects of climate change
That the threat of climate
change is exaggerated
37%
43%
40%
5%
5%
5%
4%
7%
5%
34%
34%
34%
20%
11%
15%
Male
Female
Overall
30%
36%
33%
15%
18%
17%
6%
8%
7%
26%
25%
25%
24%
12%
18%
Male
Female
Overall
GB US
Overall Overall
GB base: Women (544), men (508) aged 18-75, 15–17 Nov 2024. US base: Women (510), men (521) aged 18+, 15–17 Nov 2024
Thinking about climate change, do you personally think that the UK/US is making…
More people are negative than positive about the progress their nation is making in tackling climate
change
10
3%
5%
24%
32%
22%
10%
40%
42%
11%
11%
US
GB
Very good progress
on tackling climate change
Fairly good progress on
tackling climate change
Don’t
know
Not very much progress
on tackling climate change
No progress on tackling
climate change
GB base: 1,072 people aged 18-75, 15–17 Nov 2024. US base: 1,031 people aged 18+, 15–17 Nov 2024
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
14
3. Information on tackling climate change
The progress the UK/US
is making on tackling
climate change
The benefits of taking action
to help tackle climate change
The costs/disadvantages of
taking action to help tackle
climate change
What sort of action I can
take to tackle climate change
and practical information on how
Thinking about all the information you hear and see on climate change (for example in the media, online, from businesses, or from national and local
government), do you think you hear and see too much, too little, or about the right amount about each of the following?
Britons are much more likely than Americans to feel sufficiently informed about actions that can be
taken to tackle climate change
12
37%
29%
38%
34%
40%
34%
45%
36%
24%
42%
21%
35%
23%
40%
20%
39%
21%
11%
24%
11%
19%
8%
21%
9%
17%
18%
18%
19%
18%
18%
13%
16%
US
GB
US
GB
US
GB
US
GB
I hear/see too
little about this
I hear/see about the
right amount about this
Don’t know I hear/see too
much about this
GB base: 1,072 people aged 18-75, 15–17 Nov 2024. US base: 1,031 people aged 18+, 15–17 Nov 2024
You said you receive too much information about the progress the UK/US is making on tackling climate change. Why do you say this? Please select all that apply.
Among those who say they receive too much information about their country’s progress in tackling
climate change, around half say it’s because climate change is being used to advance a political
agenda they don’t agree with
GB base: 163 people aged 18-75 who said they receive too much information, 15–17 Nov 2024. US base: 133 people aged 18+ who said they receive too much information, 15–17 Nov 2024 13
14%
11%
14%
23%
16%
28%
45%
55%
54%
14%
15%
20%
25%
27%
32%
36%
45%
51%
We are making good progress on tackling climate change, we
don't need to hear so much about it
It is scary to hear so much about climate change
I already know all I need to know about climate change
I do not want to hear about climate change at all
This is important, but people talk about it too much
Taking action on climate change is damaging the country
I do not believe that climate
change is an important issue
Climate change is being used to put
forward a political agenda I don't agree with
There are other, more important issues affecting people
GB US
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
15
4%
11%
22%
24%
29%
30%
28%
34%
30%
37%
42%
10%
13%
24%
25%
30%
33%
33%
34%
37%
47%
47%
Public figures (such as celebrities)
who are making these changes
Other people like me around my
area who are making these changes
The impact that not taking action will have on climate change
The infrastructure / facilities I need to use to make these
changes (such as electric vehicle charging points, public
transport options and so on)
Which changes / choices are the best ones for me (such as
which type of home insulation to install,
or which model of electric car)
The environmental benefits of these changes
The health benefits of these changes (such as health benefits
of plant-based diets or active
travel such as walking or cycling)
How to access to financial support or subsidies (such as
government funding for actions
like improving home energy efficiency)
Practically how to make these changes (such as how to go
about replacing my boiler with
a heat pump, who to contact and so on)
The costs (financial, time or other) of these changes
The cost savings (financial, time
or other) I could make from these changes
GB
US
When weighing up whether
to make personal changes
to help tackle climate
change, information about
potential costs and savings
is what people are most
interested in receiving
There are lots of different things
that people may want to do to help
tackle climate change (such as
eating a plant-based diet, making
energy efficiency improvements to
their home, installing a heat pump
to heat their home, buying an
electric vehicle and so on).
Which, if any, of the following types
of information would most help you
or your household to make these
types of changes? Information
about…. Please select all that apply.
14GB base: 1,072 people aged 18-75, 15–17 Nov 2024. US base: 1,031 people aged 18+, 15–17 Nov 2024
COP29: Outcomes, implications and public perceptions of the climate threat | December 2024
16
Survey details
Great Britain
Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,072 GB adults aged 18-75. Interviews were conducted online
from 15–17 November 2024. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a
wide range of potential sources of error.
United States
This Ipsos poll was conducted November 15-17, 2024, by Ipsos using the probability-based KnowledgePanel®.
This poll is based on a representative probability sample of 1,031 adults age 18 or older.
The survey was conducted using KnowledgePanel, the largest and most well-established online probabilitybased
panel that is representative of the adult US population. Our recruitment process employs a scientifically
developed addressed-based sampling methodology using the latest Delivery Sequence File of the USPS – a
database with full coverage of all delivery points in the US. Households invited to join the panel are randomly
selected from all available households in the U.S. Persons in the sampled households are invited to join
and participate in the panel. Those selected who do not already have internet access are provided a tablet
and internet connection at no cost to the panel member. Those who join the panel and who are selected to
participate in a survey are sent a unique password-protected log-in used to complete surveys online. As a result
of our recruitment and sampling methodologies, samples from KnowledgePanel cover all households regardless
of their phone or internet status and findings can be reported with a margin of sampling error and projected
to the general population. KnowledgePanel members receive a per survey incentive, usually the equivalent of
$1 (though for some it is $2) in points, that can be redeemed for cash or prizes. A prenotification email for this
study was sent prior to field. Panelists receive a unique login to the survey and are only able to complete it one
time. No reminder emails were sent for this study.
The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results
based on the entire sample of adults. The margin of sampling error takes into account the design effect, which
was 1.17. There may be other unmeasured non-sampling error in this or any poll. In our reporting of the
findings, percentage points are rounded off to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentages in a given table
column may total slightly higher or lower than 100%. In questions that permit multiple responses, columns may
total substantially more than 100%, depending on the number of different responses offered by each respondent.
The study was conducted in English. The data were weighted to adjust for gender by age, race/ethnicity,
education, Census region, metropolitan status, household income, party identification, race/ethnicity by gender,
race/ethnicity by age, and race/ethnicity by education. The demographic benchmarks came from 2023 Current
Population Survey (CPS) from the US Census Bureau. Party ID benchmarks are from the Pew NPORS 2024.
The weighting categories were as follows:
•	 Gender (Male, Female) by Age (18-29, 30-44, 45-59, 60+)
•	 Race-Ethnicity (White/Non-Hispanic, Black/Non-Hispanic, Other/Non-Hispanic and 2+ Races/NonHispanic,
Hispanic)
•	 Census Region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West)  by  Metropolitan Status (Metro, Non-Metro)
•	 Education (Less than High School, High School graduate or equivalent, Some College, Bachelor, Master or
higher)
•	 Household Income (under $25K, $25K-$49,999, $50K-$74,999, $75K-$99,999, $100K-$149,999, $150K
and over)
•	 Party ID (Republican, Lean Republican, Independent/Something else, Lean Democrat, Democrat