US President Donald Trump is among politicians who have taken controversial positions on climate change. PHOTO/WHITEHOUSE.
By PATRICK MAYOYO
A new report by the Reuters Institute has revealed that global confidence in political leadership on climate change remains shockingly low, with just one in three people trusting their leaders to effectively address the crisis.
The Climate Change News Audiences Report 2025 paints a stark picture of growing public frustration, highlighting deep generational, political, and national divides in attitudes towards political action on climate change.
The study, based on surveys conducted in eight countries—Brazil, France, Germany, India, Japan, Pakistan, the UK, and the USA, found that only 33 percent of respondents are confident that their political leaders have the right climate change priorities and are making the right decisions.
This figure contrasts sharply with the 55 percent who expressed a lack of confidence in their leaders’ ability to tackle the climate crisis effectively.
Notably, the report indicates a slight divergence in confidence among those who believe in the reality of global warming versus those who do not. Those who are sceptical about climate change show slightly more faith in political leadership, though the gap remains narrow.
Confidence in political leaders varied significantly by country. India stands out as a notable exception, with much higher levels of trust, while nations like France, Germany, and Japan recorded particularly low levels of confidence.
Across all countries except India, the number of respondents expressing low confidence in political leaders outweighs those who feel optimistic.
The report also highlights clear generational and political divides in perceptions of climate leadership. Younger people, particularly those aged 25-34, are far more likely to express confidence in their leaders, with nearly half of respondents in this group saying they trust political figures to handle climate change. In contrast, just one in four of those aged 55 and above share the same sentiment.
On the political spectrum, the study shows that those on the right tend to have more trust in their leaders’ climate action, while those on the left show greater scepticism. Gender differences, however, were minimal across the board.
Public opinion on media coverage of climate change also reveals a mixed picture. While around one in three respondents believe the media does a good job of reporting on political leadership in climate change; holding leaders accountable and explaining their actions, the report notes significant differences across countries.
Media evaluations are notably more negative in the UK, USA, and France, where citizens express growing dissatisfaction with how climate issues are covered, compared to more positive views in India and Pakistan.
The report further indicates that those who trust the media or are deeply interested in climate issues are generally more likely to view media coverage favourably. Conversely, those who are less engaged or distrustful of the media tend to be more critical of its climate reporting.
The 2025 Report also reveals a concerning decline in climate news consumption in several key countries, including the UK, USA, Germany, and France.
While interest in climate news remains high overall, particularly among younger audiences, the study points to a drop in climate news consumption driven by factors like reduced coverage on television and diminished engagement among people over the age of 45.
Despite this decline in media consumption, trust in the media as a source of climate information has remained relatively stable. The report found that, on average, half of all respondents trust news outlets for climate reporting, with Pakistan showing the highest levels of trust (72%) and France the lowest (36%).
Another key finding from the report is the divergent public perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing climate change. Across the eight countries, 35 percent of respondents believe AI will be beneficial in tackling climate change, while 26 percent view it as harmful.
Optimism is particularly strong in India and Pakistan, where around half of the population sees AI as a potential solution, whereas scepticism is most pronounced in France.
However, the report also indicates a notable gap in how well the media is covering AI’s environmental impact. Only around a third of respondents feel the media is doing a good job in explaining AI’s potential to help or harm the climate.
Despite the evident challenges, the report emphasizes the public’s strong belief in the importance of climate news coverage. Over 80 percent of respondents across the countries agree that the media has a crucial role to play in educating, informing, and holding political leaders accountable.
However, there remains a gap between the public’s expectations and their assessment of how well the media meets those needs.
Older audiences, in particular, report feeling that their informational needs are not adequately met, especially in areas such as understanding complex climate science. Meanwhile, younger people, though generally more satisfied, expressed a desire for content that is both inspiring and easier to understand.
The report concludes by calling for more responsive and inclusive climate coverage that not only addresses the immediate concerns of climate change but also provides a hopeful, solution-oriented perspective to help drive public engagement and action.
This study highlights the urgent need for political leaders, the media, and other stakeholders to not only improve their climate action but also engage the public in a more transparent, informed, and hopeful manner.
