Spain demonstrates strong public support for both mitigation and adaptation policies addressing climate change — especially in areas such as renewable energy, behavioral regulation, and infrastructure investment.
Public Concern & Support
Approximately 75–80% of Spaniards remain concerned about climate change. A recent Ipsos-led “fatigue” survey notes 75 % remain concerned, especially among women, older adults, and left-leaning voters. The General population’s belief that climate change is happening is around 80 %, down slightly from ~84 % in 2023. Among youth (18–30), this has dropped from 90 % in 2023 to 76 % in early 2025 (www.huffingtonpost.es).
81 % favor stricter government measures to change behaviors. A strong 95 % support adaptation actions such as flood defenses and infrastructure improvements, with 88–89 % believing in upfront investment to offset future costs. EU climate neutrality: Within Spain and across the EU, around 81% support the EU’s target of climate neutrality by 2050; 85% view climate change as a serious problem; and 88 % support renewable energy investment and energy efficiency. Climate ActionRepresentación en Españasoziable.es.
Demographic & Political Differences
Women express more concern than men, and older adults express more concern than younger adults. Stated youth skepticism is rising, particularly among young men. Left-wing voters (PSOE, Unidas Podemos, Sumar) show stronger climate concern and policy support. Right-wing and young male voters are more skeptical. The gap between left- – and right-leaning widened from ~13 to ~44 pps.
What People Want — Policy Preferences
Public favors incentives over taxes—e.g., subsidies to low-income households, support for green businesses, public education campaigns—versus environmental taxes, which are less popular
Infrastructure & adaptation to climate change, such as investment in renewable energy, flood prevention, and social infrastructure (including housing, hospitals, and schools), are highly supported. Spanish poll respondents also favor promoting education, implementing carbon taxes for high-impact goods, and reducing short-haul flights.
Noted Fatigue & Skepticism
59 % of the population feel it’s now an individual’s duty to act, down 15 pp from 2021, indicating fatigue. Only 50% trust the government’s seriousness about climate change; many distrust the media’s clarity and find it hard to separate reliable information from misinformation (Representación en España). Moreover, 50% of the Spanish people think actions to prevent climate change are going to cost them money (Climate Change Observatory, Spanish government, 2024)
Utility & Limitations of Current Polling
Strengths
- Large sample sizes, often nationally representative (e.g., Eurobarómetro, EIB).
- Broad topics covered include seriousness, types of measures, and demographic breakdowns.
- Comparisons over time show trends and shifts.
Weaknesses & Gaps
- Shallow segmentation: Limited cross-tabs (education, region, income) reduce nuance.
- Youth underrepresented: Sparse qualitative insights into why youth skepticism is rising.
- Attitudinal vs. behavioral intent: Few polls explore willingness to pay or actual behavior.
- Framing effects: Polls rarely test different policy framings (e.g., green incentives vs green taxes).
How to Improve
- Deeper demographic cuts: More data by region, education, and income.
- Youth-focused studies: Qualitative focus groups to explore their declining belief.
- Behavioral design questions: Test concrete vs. abstract policy framing on public acceptance.
- Misinformation tracking: Include metrics on trust in sources and resilience to disinformation.
Recent Polls
| Source | Date | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|
| Ipsos (People & Climate Change) | May 2025 | 75 % concerned; 59 % view personal duty; youth belief down to 76 %; heavy support for incentives eib.org+5eib.org+5Wikipedia+5ElHuffPost+1Wikipedia+1EcoAvant.com+1ipsos.com+1 |
| Eurobarómetro special #565 | Feb–Mar 2025 | 85 % see climate as serious; 81 % support 2050 neutrality; 88 % support renewables & efficiency Representación en Españasoziable.es |
| EIB Climate Survey (Spain) | Aug 2024 | 95 % support adaptation; 89 % think it boosts jobs; 88 % favor early investment eib.orgadaptecca.es |
| Observatorio Transición Justa | Feb–Mar 2025 | Youth belief fell 14 pp; 63 % prioritize climate action; preferences for incentives over taxes ElHuffPost |
Conclusion
Spain demonstrates strong public support for both mitigation and adaptation policies addressing climate change — especially in areas such as renewable energy, behavioral regulation, and infrastructure investment. Yet, rising skepticism among young adults and ongoing “climate fatigue” due mainly to fear of higher living costs and price rises suggest a fragile public commitment, especially due to a lack of effective communication on social inclusion measures.
Improving polling means going beyond high-level snapshots: gathering granular demographic insights, exploring psychological motivations, testing policy framing, and measuring trust and misinformation. These enhancements could help policymakers craft tailored and resilient climate change strategies.
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Spain Country Manager Juanjo Santos.