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NEW YORK — The end of the world may be coming a lot sooner than some people think — if the climate doomsayers are right. According to a new survey, nearly half of Americans believe climate change will devastate the planet during their lifetime. The survey of 5,000 Americans, split evenly by state, revealed that 48 percent of all respondents believe they’ll live to see climate change ravage the entire world.
Respondents in Hawaii were the most likely to agree (66%), with Americans in Vermont (59%) and New Mexico (56%) rounding out the top three states most concerned about the effects of climate change in the not-too-distant future. More than half of respondents in Washington (55%) and Minnesota (54%) also believe they'll still be alive when our climate reaches catastrophic levels.
Commissioned by Avocado Green Mattress and conducted by Talker Research, the survey also asked Americans if they believe climate change will have a greater impact on their state versus other states.
Hawaiians were again the most concerned, with 61 percent believing climate change will be worse for their state than others — this time, followed by Alaskans (55%) and Californians (54%). Those in Louisiana (53%) and New York (49%) were also concerned about the impact on their state.
Regardless of where they live, 65 percent of respondents wish they could do more to be environmentally conscious in their day-to-day lives.
“Our experiences, including where we live, have an understandable impact on our worries about climate change,” says Laura Scott, Director of Brand Marketing at Avocado Green Mattress, in a statement. “That's why learning about the ways we can protect the environment in our local communities is a great way to get involved and see firsthand the change we're making.”
Some respondents admit that, despite taking environmentally conscious actions, they’re not doing it for the good of the planet. Rather, these respondents believe they’re doing it for a more selfish reason. The survey revealed that 37 percent are taking environmentally conscious actions solely because it helps them feel like a good person.
Maybe their reason for taking environmentally friendly actions doesn’t matter. When asked if the intent of their actions or the end result is more important, 33 percent said the result matters more, with 50 percent saying both are equally important.
Regardless of why they’re taking environmentally conscious actions, one in three say doing so helps them to sleep better at night. Half of the respondents (47%) add that taking care of the environment helps them to take better care of themselves, although others find it exhausting to worry about the environment. In fact, 10 percent feel taking care of the environment means they don’t always have time to take care of themselves.
“Taking care of yourself and our planet are harmonious,” contends Christine Carpio, the senior manager of Community + Social Impact at Avocado Green Mattress. “Choosing eco-friendly products that nurture your well-being ensures your rest and relaxation don’t come at the expense of the environment. The key is making choices that make you feel fulfilled.”
Survey methodology:
This random double-opt-in survey of 5,000 Americans — split evenly with 100 per state — was commissioned by Avocado Green Mattress between March 6 and March 15, 2024. It was conducted by market research company Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
