The majority of people want action on climate but think they are in the minority, and therefore keep silent. A new global media campaign seeks to give voice to the world’s silent climate majority.

By Centre for Climate Safety in partnership with Covering Climate Now’s 89percent.org project

‘89%’ is a major project currently running across a number of media outlets worldwide. It focuses on a study published in Nature last year – a huge survey conducted across 125 different countries, where over 130,000 people were interviewed. The research showed that a full 89% of the global population actually wants more political action on the climate emergency, and that 69% of them are willing to contribute 1% of their personal income.

That in itself is quite significant, but what surprised the researchers even more was that, even though 89% do want politicians to take action on climate, they mistakenly believe they are in the minority.

That fact is not reflected in mainstream news coverage, which is a big part of the reason why the majority don’t even realise that they are the majority.

Consequently, the reality is that there is a vast silent majority within the global population who wrongly believe they are somewhat alone in their climate concern and in their support for greater engagement in the green transition.

Since Trump became president of the United States, this belief can easily be reinforced when reading media headlines suggesting that ‘people in the US and Europe have also lost their drive for climate action, so why should I care? I am not going to waste my time entering a battle that is already lost.’

We are social animals. We do what what others do. So these findings are really important to understand. It is a message we should all be shouting from the rooftops: ‘You are not alone! If you think like me that we should do more on climate, we are not alone! We are in the majority.’

The Danish sociologist Rune Baastrup puts it like this: that human beings are wired in such a way that they don’t start putting out a fire simply because they see smoke. People only begin to act the moment they see others running, carrying a bucket of water.

We don’t put solar on our roof because we saw an advertisement about it. We do it when we can see all our neighbours are doing it.

In the election debates in Australia at the moment, politicians talk about energy and climate solutions as if the nation was divided more or less fifty-fifty for and against. This is actually not the case.

In Australia, nearly two-thirds of people consistently say the government should be doing more on climate, and over 70% say they are seriously concerned about the impacts of global warming. Most Australians back renewables, stronger emissions targets, and a fair transition away from fossil fuels.

But this powerful consensus is drowned out by political noise and targeted misinformation.

In the article below, we’ll take you through some of the data, polling, public sentiment, and international comparisons to reveal this one clear truth: the climate majority is a fact – and if our politicians only had the guts to let the Australian people have a referendum on this topic, it would change the way this country is being run – and powered – overnight.

Or to put it another way: Australian public opinion embraces climate action. So it is about time that the politicians in the Australian Parliament in Canberra started listening to the people they are supposed to serve.

The question is no longer whether or not we should act, it is only how we should act first, and how fast this can be done.

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Australia’s silent climate majority

A majority of Australians – between 56% and 83% depending on the year and poll wording – want our government to do more to address climate change. More than two thirds of Australians – typically around 70–75% – say they are genuinely concerned about climate change.

These are safe and accurate generalisations reflecting the trends seen across multiple reputable surveys, including YouGov, Lowy Institute, CSIRO, Ipsos, Guardian Essential and Climate of the Nation reports by the Australia Institute.

The 2024 study published in Nature Climate Change was based on a Gallup World Poll that surveyed nearly 130,000 people across 125 countries with half-hour phone interviews. It found that 89% of respondents demand intensified political action on climate change, alongside broad willingness to adopt pro-climate behaviours, and more specifically, it found this also to be the case for 83% of Australians.

Similarly, the United Nations Development Programme’s People’s Climate Vote 2024 – the largest climate opinion survey ever conducted, covering 77 countries – reported that four in five people globally – 80% – want more ambitious government measures to tackle the climate crisis.

The UNDP’s 2024 survey found about 74% of Australian respondents want more government action on climate change.

The findings reveal a near-universal public mandate for stronger climate policies, cutting across rich and poor nations – with support ranging from about two-thirds of people in some industrialised countries to well over four-fifths in many developing nations (Nature, UNDP).

A YouGov poll in August 2025 found 77% of Australians want the government to take stronger action on climate, in the face of worsening extreme weather events.

Why does such a consensus on climate action remain largely hidden?

The researchers observed a widespread perception gap: most individuals underestimate how many of their fellow citizens support climate measures, a state of “pluralistic ignorance” on a global scale.

In the Nature study, people across the world were unaware that the vast majority shares their concern – a phenomenon that leaves this majority effectively silent. Psychologists call it a “spiral of silence”: if people erroneously think their pro-climate views are in the minority, they are less likely to speak out, thus reinforcing the false impression that only a few care about climate action.

This means a pivotal truth – that most people favour bolder climate action – has not been reflected in public discourse or media coverage. As a result, the world’s climate supermajority remains politically under-leveraged.

Amplifying the silent majority

In April 2025, an international media collaboration launched a campaign to “wake up” this silent climate majority and bring its influence to bear. Branded as ‘The 89% Project’, this year-long initiative – led by the global journalism network Covering Climate Now in partnership with dozens of newsrooms including The Guardian and Agence France-Presse – aims to spotlight that “overwhelming majority of the world’s people” who want stronger climate action.

Through dedicated reporting and events, 89percent.org is telling the stories of this majority – from teachers and farmers to students and CEOs – to correct misperceptions and empower public demand for change.

The project’s premise is that making the majority aware of itself could be transformative.

One of the most powerful forms of climate communication is just telling people that a majority of other people accept the reality of climate change and want action, notes Yale University’s Anthony Leiserowitz, pointing out that such awareness can embolden citizens and create a “social tipping point” pushing leaders to act.

89percent.org seeks to turn the world’s climate concerned from a silent majority into a vocal one, bridging what commentators have called a “deficit in democracy” on this issue.

Australians’ views on climate and action

Let’s look more in detail at how Australia fits into this global picture of the 89%. Despite a history of heated “climate wars” in its politics, public opinion in Australia actually strongly supports climate action, in line with the worldwide trend.

National polls over recent years consistently show that a solid majority of Australians recognise the seriousness of climate change and favour proactive measures.

In the Lowy Institute’s annual polling, 57% of Australians in 2024 agreed that “global warming is a serious and pressing problem [and] we should begin taking steps now even if this involves significant costs”, versus only 12% who felt no action should be taken until we are sure the problem is real.

This majority has remained relatively steady (around 60%) since 2018, indicating enduring public support for climate action even amid short-term issues like economic pressures.

Likewise, The Australia Institute’s long-running Climate of the Nation survey in 2023 reported over 70% of Australians are concerned about climate change and its impacts, and 79–80% are worried about tangible effects such as more bushfires, droughts, and species extinctions – placing climate high among public concerns despite a backdrop of cost-of-living anxieties.

Importantly, Australians not only acknowledge climate change but overwhelmingly support specific actions and policies to address it. Recent surveys reveal a broad mandate for the transition to clean energy and other climate initiatives:

• Renewable energy: 87% of Australians support government subsidies for developing renewable energy technology (Lowy Institute 2024 poll).
• Emissions targets: 72% support setting more ambitious national emissions reduction targets under international agreements (Lowy 2024).
• Climate finance: 63% back Australia providing financial aid to Pacific and developing countries to help them manage climate impacts (Lowy 2024).
• Coal phase-down: 60% support reducing Australia’s coal exports and 59% support a ban on new coal mines domestically (Lowy 2024).
• Fossil fuel moratorium: 55% agree with introducing an emissions trading scheme or carbon tax to price carbon pollution (Lowy 2024).
• No new fossil projects: 55% support following the International Energy Agency’s pathway of no new coal, gas or oil projects – essentially a moratorium on new fossil fuel development to limit warming to 1.5°C (Climate of the Nation 2023).
• Coal phase-out planning: 66% believe the government should plan to phase out coal mining entirely and transition workers to other industries (Climate of the Nation 2023).
• Polluter pays: 74% support imposing a tax on businesses based on how much they pollute (a corporate carbon pollution tax), and two-thirds favour a windfall profits tax on oil and gas companies (Climate of the Nation 2023).

These figures underscore a robust public mandate for climate action in Australia.

From accelerating renewable energy to phasing out coal and making polluters pay, most Australians favour taking substantial steps to combat climate change. Even proposals once considered politically contentious – such as carbon pricing or banning new coal mines – enjoy majority support.

This consensus is reflected in other indicators as well. For instance, climate change is widely viewed as a security threat: a Lowy Institute poll showed 89% of respondents saw climate change as a threat to Australia’s vital national interests, a level of concern on par with or exceeding other security issues.

And in 2022, Australians elected a government with a significantly stronger climate platform, following an election campaign where climate policy was a key issue – further evidence that public opinion has translated into a mandate for change.

An Earth for All survey conducted by Ipsos uncovered Australian attitudes to nature, climate, and the economy. 1,000 Australian participants aged 18-65 were interviewed between 5 March and 8 April 2024. Here are some of Ipsos’ findings:

Only 27% of Australians think that their government is doing enough to tackle climate change and environmental damage. 41% disagree or strongly disagree. 26% neither agree nor disagree.

Asked how quickly the world needs to act in a major way to reduce carbon emissions, 68% of Australians replied: “Act immediately, within the next decade.”

Australian climate scepticism

At the same time, Australia’s public opinion on climate is not without complexities. Paradoxically, Australians have exhibited slightly higher levels of climate scepticism on certain questions compared to some other countries, even as they support climate solutions.

For example, a 2024 global poll across 26 nations found that only 60% of Australians attribute climate change primarily to human activity, well below the 73% global average – suggesting a notable minority still doubts the scientific consensus.

And while 78% of Australians in that poll agreed that “climate disruption” is occurring, this was one of the lower results internationally. The global average was 89%.

Such findings hint that public understanding of climate science in Australia has lagged behind the urgency people feel for action. Years of politicised climate debates and misinformation – the so-called climate wars – likely contributed to some confusion.

Australia has a strong, wealthy and well organised fossil fuel industry, which has orchestrated numerous misinformation campaigns in the public domain – with tv-commercials, large billboards along the roads, millions of dollars spent on social media campaign, even front page headlines on newspapers, all with one single purpose: to manipulate Australians to believe that the climate threat isn’t real and getting off gas, oil and coal would be a very bad – and costly – idea.

These ongoing propaganda campaigns are likely one of the main reasons why the average percentage figure in Australia is 10-15% lower than the global average.

Add to that that a tiny minority’s resistance to the transition has been loud, well funded and supported by media and online services.

Politicians with strong ties to the fossil fuel industry such as Barnaby Joice, Matt Canavan and opposition leader Peter Dutton have been strong voices against climate action, assisted by media outlets such as Sky News Australia and The Australian.

Nevertheless, even many who remain uncertain about causes or terminology still want to see practical action, whether for environmental reasons or co-benefits like cleaner air and energy security.

As one industry survey noted, Australians broadly support steps like expanding renewable energy “regardless of climate change” because of tangible benefits such as lower pollution and reliable power.

In short, on climate policy the Australian public’s stance is ahead of what simplistic divides might suggest: the average Australian voter is concerned about climate impacts and supports solutions, even if a vocal minority and certain political actors have been successful at obscuring that reality.

Breaking the climate silence in Australia

Australia offers a clear microcosm of the “silent majority” dynamics that the 89% Project seeks to address. Despite strong pro-climate attitudes, for many years the public narrative often failed to reflect this, as political discourse was dominated by rancorous disputes over carbon pricing, coal jobs, and energy costs. This has left many Australians with the impression that the country was hopelessly divided on climate action.

In reality, as we’ve seen, most Australians are on the side of action – a fact that still today is not getting the attention it deserves in mainstream media.

A vivid example of this disconnect between perception and reality comes from rural Australia. In recent times, anti-renewable energy activists have staged loud protests in some regional areas, creating a perception that locals universally oppose wind and solar projects on farmland.

However, a 2024 survey of residents in New South Wales and Queensland’s Renewable Energy Zones revealed that the “quiet majority” of rural Australians actually support the renewables transition. The poll, conducted for the farmer-led organisation Farmers for Climate Action, found 70% of regional Australians in these renewable zones support new local renewable energy projects, with just 17% opposed.

Among people directly involved in farming the support was even higher (73%). The lobby’s CEO Natalie Collard hailed the findings as proof that a “silent majority” of farmers back the clean energy shift, despite “an increasingly loud campaign by anti-renewable voices”.

In other words, rural communities that were thought to be bastions of climate scepticism are largely on board with climate solutions – they just weren’t being heard over the din of a vocal minority. The survey also noted that many supporters had legitimate concerns about how projects are implemented (regarding land use, wildlife and community benefits), but these were issues to be managed, not outright opposition. Once again, better communication and engagement can ensure the true majority voice is recognised and addressed, rather than allowing misconceptions to fester.

Realising the existence of this pro-climate majority is not merely academic – it has practical implications for democracy and policymaking. When citizens understand that their views are shared by most of their peers, they are more likely to demand ambitious action and hold leaders accountable. Australia is arguably seeing the beginnings of this shift.

The change of federal government in 2022, accompanied by the rise of climate-focused independent candidates, signalled that voters were ready to break the stalemate and support more aggressive climate policies.

The new government swiftly increased Australia’s emissions reduction targets and introduced legislation to drive down carbon emissions, moves that aligned with majority public opinion. Polling shows broad approval for such steps; for instance, 72% of Australians approve of adopting more ambitious national emissions targets, as noted above.

There is also public backing for Australia taking a positive international role: 70% support Australia co-hosting a United Nations climate conference in the near future, and the country’s bid (with Pacific neighbours) to host COP31 in 2026 enjoys widespread support.

These examples demonstrate how recognising the mandate can embolden policymakers to act in accordance with the public’s wishes, rather than fearing a non-existent backlash.

From consensus to action: Harnessing the 89%

Australia’s case underlines a positive message in the battle against climate breakdown: the public is not the hurdle – in fact, the public is ahead of many governments and institutions in desiring bold climate action. The challengeis to convert this latent consensus into real-world outcomes.

If successful, initiatives like the 89% Project could play a critical role by raising awareness of the majority viewpoint and connecting the dots between disparate communities all pushing for change. In doing so, they chip away at the sense of isolation that can keep people silent.

As more Australians come to realise that “everyone, everywhere” largely agrees on the need for climate action, the politics of climate change could shift from a polarising debate to a unifying call.

For Australia, leveraging our pro-climate public opinion will lead to accelerated progress toward our emissions targets and a smoother transition for the Australian economy. It can empower our political leaders to pursue policies that were once deemed too politically risky – from strengthening renewable energy targets to phasing out thermal coal – with the knowledge that a strong majority stands behind them.

Once all sides of Parliament accept that the overall populace wants solutions, not more conflict, it can encourage more constructive bipartisan dialogue on managing the green transition.

The story of public opinion on climate action – in Australia and around the world – is fundamentally a good news story: despite years of contention, most people want to tackle the climate crisis. Far from being apathetic, the Australian public’s stance on climate is one of concern, urgency, and willingness to act.

The 89percent.org campaign and similar efforts aim to ensure this message is heard loud and clear. By highlighting credible data and sharing local stories of climate concern, we can build confidence within the “climate majority” to speak up.

If successful, the once-silent 89% will no longer be a hidden force but an outspoken constituency – one capable of driving a swift and just response to climate change in line with what science demands. For a problem as big as the climate emergency, galvanising the already willing majority might just be that key we have been looking for to unlock faster and more decisive action.

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Read more

→ Greenpeace International – 19 June 2025:
8 in 10 people support taxing oil and gas corporations to pay for climate damages, global survey finds.
“A vast majority of people believe governments must tax oil, gas and coal corporations for climate-related loss and damage, and that their government is not doing enough to counter the political influence of super rich individuals and polluting industries. These are the key findings of a global survey, which reflect a broad consensus across political affiliations, income levels and age groups. The study, jointly commissioned by Greenpeace International and Oxfam International, was launched on 19 June 2025 at the UN Climate Meetings in Bonn. The survey was conducted across 13 countries, including most G7 countries.”

→ The Guardian – 26 April 2025:
Why Australia’s most prominent climate change deniers have stopped talking about the climate
“Global heating sceptics now argue it is more palatable with the electorate to pivot from climate denialism to anti-renewable energy scepticism.”

→ The Guardian – 23 April 2025:
A silent majority of the world’s people wants stronger climate action. It’s time to wake up
“About 89% of the public want their governments to do more to tackle the climate crisis – but don’t know they’re the majority.”

→ The Zero Planet – 23 Apr 2025:
Breaking the climate silence
“A silent majority may unwittingly be holding back progress on climate solutions just by keeping quiet.”

→ EcoWatch – 22 April 2025:
Unleashing the 89% of People Who Want Climate Action Could Lead to ‘Social Tipping Point’ and More Government Action, Experts Say
“A whopping 89 per cent of people globally want stronger action on the climate crisis, but feel trapped in a “spiral of silence” because of the mistaken belief they are in the minority, according to research.”

→ Our World in Data – 25 March 2024:
More people care about climate change than you think
The majority of people in every country support action on climate, but the public consistently underestimates this share.

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Australia’s “silent climate majority”:
Who supports climate action – and who don’t?

Gender and climate attitudes

Australian women tend to be slightly more concerned about climate change and supportive of climate action than men, though both genders show high concern overall.

For example, the Australia Institute’s Climate of the Nation 2024 survey found 70% of women and 68% of men are concerned about climate change.

Women are also more likely to say the federal government is “not doing enough” on climate (53% of women vs 47% of men). Similarly, in 2021 the Climate of the Nation report found 78% of women vs 72% of men were concerned about climate change.

Women consistently express greater urgency for action. In 2021, 46% of women (versus 34% of men) wanted Australia’s coal power phased out within a decade.

Women were also less likely to downplay the threat – only 21% of women said the seriousness of climate change is exaggerated, compared to 36% of men.

This pattern holds in policy support: 72% of women vs 67% of men backed setting targets to limit warming to 1.5–2 °C (net-zero, etc).

Notably, an international UN survey found Australia has one of the world’s largest gender gaps in support for ending fossil fuel burning – with Australian women far more supportive of phasing out fossil fuels than men.

Despite these differences, it’s important to note the “silent climate majority” spans both genders – large majorities of both women and men accept climate change and favour action. The gap between them, while measurable, is not so large as to obscure the overarching finding: most Australian men and women want stronger climate action.

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Generational differences: age

Younger Australians are markedly more climate-conscious than older folks.

Polls consistently show a generation gap in Australia. The older you are, the less you care about climate. In Climate of the Nation 2024, 83% of 18–24 year-olds were concerned about climate change, versus just 60% of those over 65.

The 2023 Lowy Institute Poll found 72% of Australians under 30 see global warming as urgent, compared to 53% of those aged 30 and over. In 2024, 73% of 18–29 year-olds versus 51% of over-60s prioritised urgent action.

Climate of the Nation 2021 similarly showed younger cohorts far more likely to support 1.5°C targets and a clean energy transition. Older Australians were also more sceptical: about half of over-65s believed climate change is mainly natural, compared to about three-quarters of under-35s accepting human causation.

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Education level differences

Higher education correlates strongly with stronger climate concern and support for action.
An Australian National University analysis of 2019 voting behaviour found that higher education levels consistently predicted pro-climate views.

Other studies confirm that Australians with university degrees show higher acceptance of climate science and stronger support for action.

The 2024 Ipsos global survey also suggested that university-educated people globally (including in Australia) show stronger belief in human-caused climate change.

Thus, while support exists across all education levels, those with higher education are more consistently and strongly part of the pro-climate majority.

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Additional national surveys confirming majority support

Lowy Institute Polls: In 2024, 57% of Australians agreed global warming is “a serious and pressing problem” requiring action even at cost. Similar majorities appeared in every Lowy poll from 2019–2023.

Australia Institute’s Climate of the Nation: Climate of the Nation 2023 and 2024 both reported 69–70% concern levels among Australians. Strong majorities also consistently support renewable energy, emissions reduction, and phasing out fossil fuels.

Guardian Essential Polls: In 2021, 59% of Australians said Australia must “follow other countries’ lead and make climate action a priority.” Also, in 2020, 68% of Coalition voters supported adopting net-zero by 2050.

Ipsos Climate Change Reports: In 2025, 56% of Australians said the nation should be doing more on climate change.

United Nations People’s Climate Vote (Australia Sample): About 74% of Australians surveyed supported greater government action on climate.

Reuters-backed Ipsos global climate surveys found that about three in four Australians want climate action, in line with other Western democracies.

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A broad, diverse, and powerful climate majority

Almost two-thirds of Australians – between 56% and 83%, depending on year and poll wording – consistently want their government to do more to address climate change.

More than two-thirds of Australians – typically 70–75% – are genuinely concerned about climate change.
Women, young people, and the highly educated are even more likely to demand stronger action – but majorities are found across every group.

Australia’s public opinion is in line with the global trend – and part of the global “silent majority” now being amplified by initiatives like 89percent.org.

Despite political noise, the data shows Australians broadly and consistently support bolder action on climate – a sentiment that will only grow stronger as younger, more climate-conscious generations take the lead.

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This story is part of the 89% Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now

Media coverage of the 89 Percent Project

• Corriere Della Sera – 24 April 2025: 
  Da maggioranza silenziosa a massa critica: il progetto internazionale per dare voce a chi chiede azioni per il clima
• Times of India – 23 April 2025:
  Aiming to make respective govts in enhancing action on climate change, Covering Climate Now launches ‘89 Percent Project’
• Legal Planet – 23 April 2025: 
  Day After Earth Day, the Climate Pope, and the 89%
• The Energy Mix – 22 April 2025: 
  Global News Project Spotlights the ‘Silent Climate Majority’
• Columbia Journalism Review – 21 April 2025: 
  The Pope and the Press
• Common Dreams – 21 April 2025: 
  The 89%: New Media Collaboration Calls Attention to ‘Climate Change’s Silent Majority’
• Alterna – 21 April 2025: 
  89% Worldwide and 86% in Japan: Overwhelming Majority Calls for Stronger Climate Action
• Telemundo – 19 April 2025: 
  AHORA Planeta Tierra, sábado 19 de abril de 2025
• Ms. – 13 April 2025: 
  Nearly 90% of Us Want Climate Action. What’s Stopping Us?

Unlocking the green transition in Australia

Let’s get it right – a vision for the green transition

Just wondering: How come this story is not headline news, front page stories, in all of our news media? It changes "the narrative" – and possibly the 3 May election – if only Australians confidently and proudly were fully aware of this. A major #StoryChange in media is urgently needed. #AusPol

— Mik Aidt (@mikaidt.bsky.social) April 17, 2025 at 7:36 PM

The anti-net zero messaging of Trump and Dutton trickles down

Councillor Max Patton, who voted against the motion, told The Age the climate emergency declaration and plan had overwhelming community support when it was introduced. By contrast, he said, the community had been unable to express its views on the motion passed on Tuesday night.

“This motion has come to the chamber without any community consultation,” Patton said.

Patton said many residents had attended the meeting to voice their opposition to the move.

“The gallery was full and there were many people dissenting on this.”

→ The Age – 23 April 2025:
Mornington Peninsula council scraps climate emergency plan
“A coastal Victorian council in a high erosion risk zone has scrapped its climate emergency declaration and plan after a controversial split vote on Tuesday night.”

Meanwhile, in the real world