Americans are less concerned – but more divided – on climate change than people elsewhere
There is minimal praise from other societies for how the United States and China are handling climate change.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
There is minimal praise from other societies for how the United States and China are handling climate change.
Citizens offer mixed reviews of how their societies have responded to climate change, and many question the efficacy of international efforts to stave off a global environmental crisis.
Focus groups with young adults in France, Germany and the United Kingdom revealed that these young people see the U.S. as the “world’s policeman” with a self-interested history of interventionism, while China is labeled the “world’s factory,” respected for its economic dominance but criticized for its expansionism and human rights violations.
The U.S. is seen positively in advanced economies for its technology, entertainment, military and universities, but negatively for its health care system, discrimination and the state of its democracy.
Views of the U.S. are favorable across many of the 33 countries we surveyed in 2019, although confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump is low.
People around the world agree that climate change poses a severe risk to their countries, according to a 26-nation survey conducted in spring 2018. Terrorism, specifically from ISIS, and cyberattacks are also seen by many as major security threats.
Americans and Germans have vastly different opinions of their relationship, but they tend to agree on issues such as cooperation with other European allies and support for NATO.
President Trump and his policies continue to receive negative reviews from people worldwide, with a lack of confidence in his leadership especially common in Western Europe. While views of the U.S. are positive overall, they vary widely among some of its key allies.
Today, 68% say the U.S. is less respected by other countries than it was in the past.
While majorities on Trump’s five-country itinerary this month hold favorable views of the U.S., most disapprove of several of his signature policies.
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