Most people in petrostates want quick switch to clean energy, UN poll finds

The coal terminal at Lianyungang port, in the eastern Jiangsu province of China; 80% of Chinese citizens want a quick green transition, the UN poll found. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Most people in the world’s biggest fossil fuel producing countries want their countries to transition quickly to clean energy to fight the climate crisis, according to the largest ever climate opinion poll, conducted by the UN.

Many of these states have profited heavily from fossil fuel exploitation, but the 77-nation poll shows their citizens are deeply concerned about the impacts of global heating on their lives. In China and India, the biggest coal producers, 80% and 76% respectively want a quick green transition.