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Global Methane Hub, groundWork, C40 and The University of Cape Town
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 29, 2025
NEW POLL: South Africans Overwhelmingly Support Actions to Address Climate Change, Reduce Harmful Methane Pollution
90% of South Africans Support Action to Minimize Climate Change Impact, 85% Support Action to Minimize Methane Emissions
Nearly Half of South Africans Report Significant Personal Impacts of Climate Change
CAPE TOWN – According to a new poll, South Africans overwhelmingly support actions to minimize the impacts of climate change (90% total support, including 56% who strongly support), as well as actions to minimize harmful methane emissions (85% total support, with 47% strong support). The international survey, conducted in South Africa and 17 total countries across the globe, was commissioned by Global Methane Hub to examine public support for climate change solutions including reducing harmful methane pollution.
The survey revealed enthusiastic support among South Africans for action on methane, with 47% of respondents in “strong support” of action to minimize methane emissions – among the most intense levels of support registered in the survey. Of the 17 countries polled, South Africa joined Indonesia (59% strong support), Brazil (55%), and Colombia (49%) in demonstrating a powerful base of support for policymakers to take action.
“Communities that are feeling the most heat—literally—are also the most vocal in calling for climate action,” said Marcelo Mena, CEO of the Global Methane Hub. “Cutting methane is one of the fastest ways to bring temperatures down, and people know it. It’s not just science—it’s a direct response to what they’re experiencing on the ground.”
During a year in which deadly floods and landslides devastated communities across the KwaZulu-Natal, and severe drought-scorched crops and threatened food supplies for millions, South Africans’ belief in climate change is near-unanimous (97%) – with the overwhelming majority believing that human actions are to blame (74%). Nearly half (49%) of South Africans also reported strong or extreme impacts of climate change on their personal lives, a rate far higher than levels of reported personal impacts from respondents in countries in the Global North.
“Reducing methane in the waste sector offers exciting social, economic and environmental benefits,” said Kira Erwin, Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning Campaigner, groundWork. “Our model in the city of Durban shows that decentralized composting of organic materials diverts waste from landfill, reduces methane and creates jobs. It also provides small-scale farmers and urban food gardens with high quality compost that contributes to food sovereignty and reduces the use of agrochemicals and fertilizers for food growing”.
Vast Majority of South Africa Supports Action on Methane Pollution, Blames Industry for Harms
When asked about their support for policies to address methane emissions in various sectors of the economy, South Africans supported such actions by wide margins, with a majority strongly supporting action in the energy and waste management industries. Respondents were asked how much, if at all, they support actions to minimize methane emissions in the following sectors:
- Actions to minimize methane emissions from the energy sector: 85% total support (51% strong support)
- Actions to minimize methane emissions from the waste management sector: 85% total support (53% strong support)
- Actions to minimize methane emissions from the agricultural sector: 83% total support (47% strong support)
Additionally, when asked about a specific program to monitor and measure methane emissions from the agriculture sector, a resounding 80% of South Africans said they were supportive.
South Africans were later asked to select which organizations, institutions, or individuals they held most responsible for environmental harms, and pointed to large oil and gas companies and large waste management corporations as bearing the most responsibility.
International Survey Reveals Powerful, Positive Trend of Support for Methane Mitigation
Internationally, the poll surveyed people in 17 countries across five continents – Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The online survey gathered data from at least 600 people in each country and asked respondents questions on key issues ranging from views on climate change, environmental concerns and support for action, knowledge of methane gas emissions, and support for specific policies to reduce methane gas emissions.
Taken together, the survey findings reveal a powerful international trend of strong support for methane reduction. A significant majority of people across the 17 countries surveyed support actions to minimize methane pollution, with 82% average support for such actions among respondents in all surveyed countries. In the midst of the threat of policy changes in high emitting countries and regions, this robust and widespread support proves that the public supports climate progress.
While economic concerns remain the top national priority across the globe, countries in the Global South where climate change impacts are most severe tend to show the strongest support for methane mitigation, with lower levels of personal climate impacts in the Global North correlated with lower support for action.
The Urgency of Methane Reduction
Methane gas emissions have contributed to about half of the warming we are experiencing today, causing harm to communities around the globe. As policymakers and other actors look for solutions to cool the planet following the hottest year on record, reducing methane by 45% is crucial to lowering warming by 0.3 degrees Celsius by 2040, putting us on a path to a healthy future and meeting international climate commitments.
Methane is a significantly more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide:
- 86 times more potent than CO₂ over 20 years
- 28 times more potent than CO₂ over 100 years
“This comprehensive survey, commissioned by Global Methane Hub and conducted by Burson, offers an unparalleled window into public attitudes toward methane emissions and climate change, equipping decision-makers with essential insights on societal perspectives regarding methane reduction efforts,” said Bob Torongo, Executive Vice President, Burson.
** Global Methane Hub is available for interviews. To request more information or an interview, please contact **
About Global Methane Hub
The Global Methane Hub organizes the field of philanthropists, experts, nonprofits, and government organizations to ensure we unite around a strategy to maximize methane reductions. We have raised over $200 million in pooled funds from more than 20 of the largest climate philanthropies to accelerate methane mitigation across the globe. Visit our website to learn more about organizations that supported the commitment.
About groundWork
groundWork is a principles driven non-profit environmental justice organisation working towards a just transition and open democracy in South Africa and beyond. Our vision is that people live well with each other and with the earth. To realise this vision, over the last 25 years groundWork has partnered with affected communities to build solidarity and local alliances that advocate for open debate and democratic control over resources such as energy, waste and health, towards a viable future.
Survey Methodology
Burson Insights, Data & Intelligence (formerly BSG) conducted a 10-minute online poll between January 14th and February 8th, 2025, translated into 14 languages, in 17 countries across North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
In each country, responses were collected from people currently residing in the country who are 18 years of age or older and who have internet access. Weights were applied to age, gender, geography, and education to ensure collected samples were representative of adults 18+ who have internet access in each country.
A minimum of 750 responses were collected in 12 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom), with a margin of error of approximately ±3.58%. In the remaining 5 countries (Morocco, Oman, Botswana, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan), a minimum of 600 responses were collected, with a margin of error of about ±4.00%.
Note: When “total study” or “overall” figures are referenced, they are representative of the 17 countries surveyed.
