African citizens expect governments to lead on climate action, study finds

14 Aug 2025
african market
14 Aug 2025

Climate Risk Lab researchers contribute to continent-wide analysis of public perceptions of climate responsibility

A recent study published in Communications Earth & Environment finds that most Africans see their own governments as primarily responsible for addressing climate change, with far fewer placing that responsibility on historical emitters such as wealthy countries or industry. The analysis draws on Afrobarometer data from 39 countries and provides one of the most comprehensive views to date of how climate action responsibility is perceived across the continent. Researchers from Climate Risk Lab, Nicholas Simpson, Andreas Schwarz Meyer and Christopher Trisos, played a central role in the study.

Responsibility for Action: A National Focus

According to the study, more than half of survey respondents believed their national government should take the lead in limiting climate change and reducing its impacts. About a third viewed ordinary citizens as most responsible, while only a small proportion pointed to historical emitters.

These findings offer important insights into how climate responsibility is internalised in regions that are highly vulnerable but have contributed the least to global emissions.

“To meet citizens' expectations, African governments should prioritise transparent and accountable climate governance, invest in public climate education, and strengthen institutional capacity to implement climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. The study highlights that citizens expect their governments to lead on climate action, and that trust in government performance influences these expectations. Therefore, improving service delivery and reducing corruption are also key steps,” explains Nick Simpson, co-director of the Climate Risk Lab and co-author on the paper.

Using multinomial logistic regression, the study explored how various factors - such as education level, poverty status, and access to new media - influence who people believe should lead on climate action. Individuals with greater access to education and digital media were more likely to attribute responsibility to historic emitters.

These patterns point to the role of information access and governance context in shaping public expectations. Where trust in government is low or capacity is limited, expectations for government-led action may also be reduced, raising concerns about the equitable distribution of climate responsibility.

Implications for Climate Justice and Global Finance

While public willingness to act on climate change appears high, especially in vulnerable regions, the low attribution of responsibility to wealthier, high-emitting nations could complicate calls for scaled-up climate finance. As education and awareness increase, however, the study suggests that these views may shift, potentially leading to greater demands for international accountability.

The findings support the case for investing in climate literacy, strengthening national climate governance institutions, and ensuring fair global partnerships in climate action. As African societies experience intensifying climate impacts, public opinion may play an increasingly important role in shaping national and international climate responses.

“The internalisation of climate responsibility by vulnerable populations, despite their limited contributions to global emissions, raises concerns about global equity. If these populations do not attribute responsibility to historical emitters, it may weaken calls for climate finance and international support. The study suggests that increasing education and access to information can shift perceptions and potentially strengthen demands for equitable climate finance and global accountability,” says Simpson.

 

For further reading and related coverage on how climate responsibility is perceived across Africa, see the following articles from Nature Africa, Carbon Brief, and African Climate Wire: