Global infrastructure poll reveals public concerns over climate resilience and support for private investment
A new poll by GIIA and Ipsos reveals public concerns that infrastructure may not cope with climate change, highlighting the need for more private investment alongside public funding to improve resilience and efficiency
A new poll by the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA) and Ipsos, looking at public attitudes toward infrastructure in 32 countries, has found more than half (57%) of respondents feel that investing in infrastructure will make an important contribution to combating climate change, while even more (61%) agree that current infrastructure is not ready to meet the impending challenges a changing climate will bring.
The poll surveyed more than 23,000 people across 32 countries, including the G7, and other large economies such as Australia, Singapore, India and Mexico.
To address the need for improvements, 67% were supportive of more private investment to come alongside public funding, and get infrastructure built faster and more efficiently. Some 40% favoured increasing spending on infrastructure if it means increasing taxes or costs to consumers, with 35% in the G7 countries agreeing this was the right approach.
Citizens in only a handful of countries rate their government as having a good record of delivering infrastructure projects, suggesting that there is appetite for new ways of funding the projects that will bolster climate resilience. This is especially true in the G7, where only 26% agree their country is delivering national infrastructure projects well.
Jon Phillips, chief executive of GIIA said, “Our survey shows two thirds of global citizens agree that ‘investing in infrastructure will create new jobs and boost the economy, but that confidence in governments’ ability to deliver it is declining, while appetite for increased taxes is equally low.
“Surprisingly, this survey shows that the number of people who say they are willing to accept higher taxes or bills is more than double those who say they are not. There is as much, or more, support for paying a little extra for better infrastructure that can withstand the consequences of a changing climate.
“Investors in infrastructure are already delivering bold and innovative solutions in key climate sectors like the energy transition and transportation and are keen to continue working with governments worldwide to get more projects off the ground.”
Find the full results and country-specific detail here.