MANILA, Philippines — About seven in ten Filipinos consider climate change a very serious problem, according to a study by an American think tank.
The study from the Pew Research Center, released earlier this month, showed that 72 percent of Filipinos are very concerned about global warming.
Across the nations surveyed, a median of 54 percent consider climate change a very serious problem. Meanwhile, 85 percent said that it is at least a serious problem.
Out of the 40 nations surveyed, 22 nations deem global warming as a very serious challenge.
The study, however, showed that worries about climate change vary by region and country.
Latin America and Africa are most concerned about climate change, according to the survey. A median of 74 percent in Latin America think it is a serious problem. In Africa, a median of 61 percent voiced their unease about climate change.
Europeans are less concerned about climate change with a median of 54 percent. In the United States, 45 percent think that global climate change is a very serious problem.
In Asia, only a median of 45 percent expressed concerns about the issue. Perceptions on climate change vary widely among Asian nations surveyed.
The study showed that concern is relatively low throughout the Middle East with a median of 38 percent.
More than 140 world leaders are in Paris, France to attend the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention in Paris to reach an agreement on climate change.
Survey results are based on telephone and face-to-face interviews with 1,000 Filipino respondents conducted under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International. The survey has a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points.
President Benigno Aquino III is set to deliver his speech at the conference and share the country's experience on natural disasters.
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