KENYANS BACK CLIMATE ACTION

Global Methane Hub survey of 17 countries across six continents indicates Kenyas strong support for climate change interventions and reduction of harmful methane gas emissions.

Majority of Kenyans are concerned about climate change and support actions to address it. According to the latest survey by Global Methane hub , 96 percent of those polled from Kenya also support actions to reduce methane emissions.

The  online survey polled 12,976 adults across 17 countries, and six continents. Participating countries were Australia,Brazil,Canada,Chile,China,Germany, India,Italy, Kenya,Mexico,Nigeria,Norway,Senegal,South Korea,Tanzania,The United Kingdom and the United States.

The respondents numbering at least 750 in each participating country were asked questions ranging from views on climate change, environmental concerns and support for action, knowledge of methane gas emissions, and support for specific policies to reduce methane gas emissions.

CLIMATE CHANGE: KENYA LEADS IN DEMANDING ACTION, SURVEY SHOWS

Respondents in all the countries surveyed were in support of policy solutions towards addressing climate change. 82 percent supported actions to reduce methane emissions, with 39 per cent showing strong support.

Kenya led in the highest number of respondents who support climate action polling at 80 percent of those who strongly support. 

Global methane hub CEO Marcelo Mena said the results of the poll by countries, has a direct link to the effects of climate change on citizens of the respective countries. 

“The survey shows that countries most impacted by climate change are also those who support mitigating methane. The good news is that doing so, will also bring additional benefits,including energy and food security,and healthier communities.” the CEO said. 

The survey indicates that the level of familiarity with methane varied between the African countries polled, however support for mitigation was high in all of them after further education on the subject. 

 

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT

The quality of water was a concern from respondents of the four African countries that participated in the survey. In Kenya 75 percent of the respondents expressed concern over water quality. 

Majority of Kenyans are also distressed by climate change and its impact on crop yields, the weather and also the extreme impact on their lives.

 

METHANE EMISSIONS DANGEROUS

The chair of climate and clean air coalition (CCAC) Drew Shindell called for an urgent need for advocacy on the dangers of methane emissions. 

“Methane is the second largest driver of climate change after carbon dioxide, but methane reductions strongly reduce warming rates much more quickly than carbon dioxide reductions do,” he said.

Those polled blame large corporations, national governments and individual citizens for environmental harm. 

They however want their governments, corporations and international government systems to be deliberate in strategies to minimise the impacts of climate change. 

“Taken together, the data tells a very clear picture, it is a strong indication that people support their governments taking action to protect them against the rising global temperatures,” said the Vice President of the Global poll agency Natalie Lupiani.

 “The citizens in these 17 countries are impacted by climate change, they are concerned about it overall and on specific outcomes, such as water quality or heat waves,and they have an appetite for meaningful change at the public policy level to address methane emissions, “she added.

SURVEY PERIOD

The survey released this week, was conducted between November 14th and December 11th 2023. 

Respondents from the 17 countries demographics that included age, gender, education and internet access were considerations in those polled. It was conducted in 15 languages for 10 minutes per respondent online.