UN launches largest global public opinion survey on climate change

(Patria) - Today, celebrities and young activists met with UN officials, government representatives and civil society to launch Mission 1.5, a campaign aimed at bridging the gap between citizens and governments regarding ambitious climate action.

Mission 1.5 aims to provide an opportunity for 20 million people worldwide to voice their opinions on the ways to limit climate change that they want their governments to adopt. The campaign, led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), seeks to help bridge the gap between citizens and governments, as evident from the opinions of citizens worldwide expressed through school strikes and mass protests.

The campaign will be implemented through a video game available online and on mobile devices. UNDP developed the video game together with experts in programming, climate science and public opinion research. Users take on the role of climate policy makers and make decisions to try to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Upon completing the game, users will be able to vote on key climate actions they want to be adopted. The collected data will be analyzed and provided to governments, which often lack access to reliable information on public opinion regarding climate actions.

The previous largest international public opinion survey on climate change covered 10,000 people from 76 countries and was conducted ahead of the 2015 climate change negotiations in Paris.

The Mission 1.5 game is available at https://mission1point5.org/ and can be accessed by all people worldwide.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is exposed to significant threats caused by climate change. At the same time, capacities to address this issue and adapt to the negative impacts of climate change are very limited, especially regarding the frequency and extent of flooding of major watercourses in BiH, whose frequency has tripled in the last decade. UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with all levels of government and with donor support, is implementing a series of initiatives that should contribute to adaptation and mitigation of climate change effects. UNDP interventions include building an integrated approach to flood risk reduction, establishing an energy management system, implementing energy efficiency measures in the public sector, better utilization of renewable energy sources, developing climate change adaptation plans and other activities.

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, stated: "Together with partners from the private and public sectors, we have the opportunity through this campaign to connect millions of people with their governments in an innovative two-way discussion on solutions to the climate crisis and increasing ambition ahead of the COP26 climate negotiations in Glasgow, which will take place later this year."

"I hope that the residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina will take the opportunity to express their views through the interactive video game. Also, this is an excellent opportunity for governments at all levels of authority in BiH to take actions based on public opinion research in terms of mitigating and adapting the country to climate change," emphasizes Steliana Nedera, UNDP Resident Representative in BiH.

About Mission 1.5

Mission 1.5 was developed by UNDP and partners as an online platform that educates citizens about climate actions and connects them with their governments and policy makers. The campaign is called Mission 1.5 because we must act immediately to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.