Public perception of climate change seriousness drops 5.1 points

A survey has found that public perception of climate change as a serious issue has weakened compared to previous years. This is attributed to accumulated fatigue from environmental policies and discussions that do not resonate with people’s daily lives, among other factors. Notably, individuals in their 20s showed the highest tendency to prioritize “convenience in daily life over eco-friendliness.”

According to the Korea Environment Institute’s (KEI) “2025 National Environmental Consciousness Survey” released on the 19th, the proportion of respondents who agreed that “climate change has a serious impact on society as a whole” fell by 5.1 percentage points to 83.5% compared to the previous year (88.6%). Those who answered that “climate change has a serious impact on themselves” also decreased by 8.6 percentage points to 57.9% from the previous year (66.5%). The share of respondents who viewed “climate change as an important issue” also dropped by 4.4 percentage points to 79.3% from the previous year (83.7%).

Researchers analyzed, “Amid serious immediate socio-economic challenges such as rising prices, economic instability, and high unemployment, the topic of ‘eco-friendliness’ is no longer perceived as a top priority, and there is accumulated fatigue from environmental discussions lacking visible results.”

By age group, 36.2% of those in their 20s (including 19-year-olds) prioritized “convenience in daily life,” the highest among all groups. This was followed by those in their 30s (27.6%), 40s (25.2%), 50s (19.9%), and those aged 60 and above (11.3%). Additionally, the share of respondents in their 20s who prioritized “eco-friendliness” was the lowest at 38.3%.

By gender, the response prioritizing “convenience” was over 10 percentage points higher among men (28.7%) than women (17.6%). This suggests that domestic environmental policies are particularly ineffective in resonating with younger generations and men.

Regarding household expenditure items increased due to climate change (multiple responses allowed), “energy costs such as heating/cooling and gas fees” were cited most frequently at 70.2%. This was followed by food expenses (65.3%), medical costs (52.6%), and “eco-friendly product purchases” (50.8%).

The National Environmental Consciousness Survey has been conducted annually since 2012. It is the only government-related environmental perception survey conducted on a yearly basis.