Climate is still crucial for how Danes vote

With the municipal elections just around the corner, the message from Concito's survey is clear: The climate agenda is still strong among voters – even though the political debate is moving elsewhere.

41 percent of Danes point to climate policy as one of the most important themes in the election debate – surpassed only by health policy (44 percent) and in line with defense policy (40 percent). This places climate as one of the most unifying issues across voters, generations and geography.

- When defense, security and foreign policy occupy an increasing amount of space, one would think that climate would fall out of voters' consciousness – but it does not. This says something about how deeply the climate has become entrenched as a value-based issue in Denmark, says Christian Ibsen, CEO of Concito.

At the same time, the barometer shows that Danes still see climate change as a serious challenge, but that the experience of how much it affects the individual's everyday life is decreasing.

A full 88 percent of Danes assess that climate change is serious – of which 41 percent as very serious. But at the same time, only 23 percent respond that climate change greatly affects their everyday life – a significant decrease from 40 percent in 2022.

- There is no doubt that Danes are still concerned about the climate, but we see a movement away from the acute crisis understanding for the individual, says Christian Ibsen.

Since 2010, the climate barometer has measured Danes' knowledge, attitudes and behavior in relation to climate and green transition. This year, it focuses on attitudes towards climate policy.

Climate remains an election issue with broad appeal

In the survey, 57 percent respond that politicians' efforts to curb climate change have an impact on where they vote in the next election.

- What is remarkable is that climate is still so high, even though only a few party leaders today profile themselves on climate, says Christian Ibsen.

- This could indicate a mismatch between voters' priorities and the political conversation. Danes continue to expect concrete action - also in the municipalities, where many of the crucial decisions for the green transition are made.

Climate ambition must be reignited

For 63 percent of Danes believe that Denmark's climate action is among the most ambitious in the world - a stable but not increasing level since 2022.

- There is a need to reignite climate ambition and the link to the need for concrete action. The figures show that resistance to climate policy is very limited, and this is a big, open invitation to take political leadership, both nationally and locally. It is now that we must show that ambitions can be translated into concrete action – not least in the municipalities, which hold the key to green mobility, energy planning and climate adaptation, says Christian Ibsen.

The climate barometer was conducted in the last week of October by Concito in collaboration with the data laboratory ClimAct, Queen Mary's Center, and is based on 1506 representative responses from the Danish population.

There will also be climate marches in several places in Denmark and around the world today as part of the "Global Day of Action", at the same time as COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

Something that is happening in seven Danish cities; Copenhagen, Hillerød, Odense, Tønder, Viborg, Aalborg and Aarhus on the "occassion of the municipal elections", writes the People's Climate March.

- The main reason why we are taking to the streets is that there are municipal elections on Tuesday the 18th, but of course we are also taking to the streets to show that we want green action everywhere, says Rasmus Rauch Jensen, co-organizer of the People's Climate March, to DR. 

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