WASHINGTON _ Nearly all South Koreans agree human activity is to blame for climate change, but not so many favor immediate major steps to address the problem, according to poll results released Wednesday.
A survey conducted for BBC World Service said 91 percent of South Koreans believe their daily activities contribute significantly to climate change. This is higher than the 79 percent average for the 21 canvassed nations.
When asked about necessary actions, they favored quick major steps over modest steps over the coming years by a relatively small margin of 48 percent to 45 percent.
GlobeScan, an international polling firm, and the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland conducted the survey for BBC through face-to-face interviews between May 29 and July 26.
It covered 22,182 citizens from 21 nations, including 14 who were invited to Washington, D.C,. this week for a meeting of major economies on energy security and climate change. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.4 to 3.5 percent.
A majority of 56 percent of South Koreans said less wealthy countries, too, should impose caps on gas emissions. Only 39 percent agreed with the opponents who argue that less-rich nations produce relatively low emissions per capital and thus should not have to set limits.
But when it came to developed nations providing financial assistance and technology to these countries, 72 percent answered yes.
The poll found high awareness of the issue among South Korean citizens, with 94 percent saying they have heard either a "great deal" or "something" about it.
Of the 21 countries surveyed, majorities in all except India viewed human activity as the significant cause of climate change.
Other than in Egypt, Nigeria and Italy, respondents mostly agreed that less wealthy countries should limit gas emissions as well.
In 13 of the 21 nations, at least twice as many people called for major steps starting very soon as those who believe modest steps over a few years are sufficient.
(Yonhap)