The findings are part of the second edition of ‘The Barometer of Ecological Transformation’
The second edition of a groundbreaking survey on ecological transformation, conducted by Veolia in collaboration with the global research and consulting firm Elabe, has revealed that 81% of UAE residents are certain about climate disruption, with 54% being optimistic that the future is still in the hands of humanity and that the cost of climate disruption far outweighs the investments required for ecological transformation.
The findings are part of the second edition of ‘The Barometer of Ecological Transformation’, a survey conducted by Veolia to understand the world’s views on the existing solutions for addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
The Barometer aims to make the public ecological perception more concise by bringing about more solution-oriented discussions and understanding the obstacles and levers of their acceptability to accelerate the ecological transformation in a more positive direction.
High cost of climate disruption
According to Veolia’s latest survey, faced with the “climate and ecological wall,” 81% of respondents in the UAE are certain that climate change is underway, although its anthropogenic origin is still the subject of debate among 21% of them: 14% support the theory of a strictly natural phenomenon, while 7% argue that it is impossible to identify the cause.
The number of respondents who believed that climate change is for real in the previous survey stood at 61%, implying an increase of 20% this year.
Additionally, the survey also found that a majority of the respondents, around 64%, agree that costs resulting from climate disruption far outweigh the investments required for ecological transformation, highlighting the financial losses associated with climate change.
The UAE survey this year marked an increase of 19% and 23% respectively in the number of people who are willing to pay more for locally produced energy with lower emissions of carbon dioxide and those who are ready to pay more for everyday products made from recycled materials, compared to the numbers from last year.
“Veolia has been at the forefront of leading initiatives needed for changing and protecting our future and enhancing living conditions globally,” commented Thierry Dezenclos, CEO, Veolia UAE, reflecting on the survey findings.
