The Global Impact of Climate Change: Concerns by Parliamentarians
Climate change has emerged as a top concern for parliamentarians worldwide, according to a perception poll conducted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The poll revealed that 43% of parliamentarians are worried about the effects of climate change on our planet. These findings were released on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of the IPU, also known as International Day of Parliamentarism, observed on June 30.
The IPU, established in 1889, serves as the global organization of national parliaments. In this recent poll, members of parliament and related stakeholders from around the world were surveyed to assess their levels of optimism, perceptions of global challenges, and their sense of safety working in parliaments.
Key Insights from the Poll:
- Climate change tops the list of concerns: Globally, respondents ranked climate change (43%) and war (27%) as the top two issues facing the world. Within their own countries, climate change (29%) remained the primary concern, followed by social and economic inequality (20%) and weakening democracies (13%).
- Current MPs express cautious optimism: Despite the challenges, sitting parliamentarians are generally optimistic about the future, with more optimism expressed about their own countries than the world.
- Majority of stakeholders feel safe in parliaments: 75% of those polled felt safe working in parliaments, with nearly 60% of current MPs expressing an intention to seek re-election. Those who felt unsafe were more likely to be former parliamentarians.
- Politics as a career choice: The poll also revealed concerns about recommending politics as a career to their children, with only 40.2% in favor, 30.1% undecided, and 29.7% against.
Sample and Process:
Approximately 800 individuals from the global parliamentary community participated in the IPU poll between June 14 and 21, 2024. The gender ratio of respondents was 58% male and 42% female, representing regions such as Africa, Europe, Asia, Americas, and Australia. The IPU conducts this global perceptions poll annually to track changes in sentiment and parliamentary priorities over time.
