Russians are less concerned about the climate change problem than other European nations, according to a global poll by GlobeScan for the BBC.
The poll was carried out between June and October among some 24,000 respondents in 23 countries. The results show that only 46% of Russians see climate change as a serious problem. The figure is less than in the U.K. (59%), Germany (61%), France (65%), Italy (68%), Spain (77%) and Turkey (81%).
The average figure for the 23 countries viewing climate change as a serious problem was 64%, with residents of Brazil being the most concerned (86%).
"The poll shows strong worldwide support for action on climate change, in spite of the recession," said GlobeScan chairman Doug Miller.
Slightly more than a half of Russians (54%) are convinced that the government should support climate change projects even if it would damage the country's economy. The average figure is 61%.
People in China and the U.S., which release the largest amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, have different points of view on the issue. While 89% of the Chinese are ready to support state investment into climate change efforts, only 52% would support the move in the U.S.
Only 36% of Russians say Russia should play 'a leading role in setting ambitious targets to address climate change" at Copenhagen, and 36% are convinced that the government should "adopt a more moderate approach and support only gradual action." Some 7% of respondents in Russia want their government to oppose any agreement.
The 15th UN climate change conference, a result of two-year international talks on a binding treaty to cut the global emission of greenhouse gases, opened on Monday in Copenhagen.
During the two weeks of talks the governments are to agree on three main climate change points, including urgent measures to tackle climate change, obligations to cut emissions of greenhouse gases and the general view on cutting harmful emissions.
The conference is expected to agree a new international document to replace the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, some elements of which expire in 2012. The document is expected to be ready by summer 2010.
Some experts believe the summit, which puts together about 15,000 participants from 192 countries, is more likely to just outline principles and directions for a post-Kyoto framework.
LONDON, December 7 (RIA Novosti)
