There is no planet B: Spanish society and its climate change concerns

la sociedad española y su preocupación por el cambio climático

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyse the sociodemographic and ideological factors that determine concern about climate change in Spanish society. To this end, it explores the ambivalence between scientific knowledge and individual awareness. The data utilised in this study were obtained from the CIS 3398 Barometer (March 2023) and the European Social Survey (Round 8). The analysis employed a range of statistical techniques, including contingency tables, Pearson's correlation, and logistic regression. The findings reveal a significant gender disparity, with female respondents demonstrating higher levels of concern and personal responsibility for climate change in comparison to their male counterparts. Moreover, an ideological polarisation is evident, whereby conservatism is associated with elevated scepticism and diminished climate urgency. With respect to geographical location, the comparative analysis indicates that Spain is among the countries in the European region that demonstrate the highest environmental awareness, with Portugal being the sole nation that surpasses it. It is concluded that, although concern is widespread and cross-cutting, factors such as gender, age, and location on the left-right axis are key predictors for understanding the perception of climate risk in the current context.