Majority of Chinese Willing to Pay More for Greener Goods Group 8 陈霞 张佳莹 谢益晶 修建懋

The vast majority of Chinese believe climate change is taking place and most consumers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly products to reduce its effects, a survey has found. Some 93 percent of respondents said climate change is under way, while about three out of five respondents feel they have been directly affected by it.

The study of 4,169 Chinese adults was carried out from July to September by the Center for China Climate Change Communication, jointly established by Renmin University of China and non-governmental organization Oxfam.

About 68.4 percent of respondents said they thought China has already suffered from the effects of climate

change, while about half of respondents said it will affect people in rural areas

more.

About 90 percent of respondents said the government should have prime responsibility for dealing with climate change, followed by the public, media, companies and NGOs.

Zheng Baowei, director of Renmin University's Research Center of Journalism and Social Development, said the government should play a dominant role in adopting measures and designing policies in line with the public's expectations and interests. However, implementation of the policies will eventually rely on public participation. More than 93.4 percent of respondents felt they have knowledge of climate change, while just 6.6 percent said they had never heard of it.

About 60 percent thought climate change is mainly caused by human activities, while 33 percent considered it to be mainly caused by the environment. Sun Zhen, deputy director of the Department of Climate Change at the National Development and Reform Commission, said the data might sound satisfactory, but climate change is placing increasing pressure on China. As the world is facing more extreme weather-related events, such as hurricanes, drought and floods, the government has an obligation to clarify to what extent climate change has contributed to these, Sun said.

Wang Binbin, executive director of the Center for China Climate Change Communication, said addressing climate change also calls for the public to practise low-carbon ways of living and consumption, while the good news is that more Chinese consumers are willing to pay more for a greener life. Some 87 percent of those surveyed said they were willing to pay more for greener products, while more than 34 percent said they would accept a 30 percent price rise to buy such products.

The survey also showed that people aged between 18 and 24 were willing to pay more for environmentally-friendly products. More than four out of five respondents said they supported the government in setting standards for mandatory garbage separation and waste recycling, adopting greener materials for construction, and producing greener cars, even if it means higher costs. Only 34 percent of respondents said they separated their garbage.

回答者jointly 联合的，联带的non-governmental organization Oxfam 非政府组织乐施会NGOs non-government organization

dominant 最有力的，主要的 in line with the public's expectations and interests

符合市民的期望和利益implementation 执行，贯彻，落实deputy director 副主任

greener goods 环保商品Phrase and expressions

respondent

obligation 义务，责任

executive director 执行董事，常务董事

address 应对low-carbon ways of living and consumption

低碳的生活方式和消费

mandatory 强制的garbage separation and waste recycling 垃圾分类和回收

extent 程度

call for 呼吁，号召

environmentally-friendly 环境友好型的

大多数中国人更愿意购买环保产品 调查发现 , 绝大部分中国人认为气候变化正在发生，大多数消费者都愿意支付更多的环保产品，以减少其影响。

有百分之 93 的受访者表示，气候变化正在进行，而约三分之五受访者认为他们已直接被它影响。

中国气候变化交流中心已在七月份到九月份期间执行了一份经中国人民大学和非政府组织乐施会共同确立的涉及到 4,169 位中国成年人的调查。

约有百分之 68.4 的受访者表示，他们认为中国已经遭受气候变化的影响，而约有一半的受访者表示，在农村地区更容易受影响。

约有百分之 90 的受访者表示，政府应该主要负责处理气候变化，其次是公众，媒体，企业和非政府组织。

人民大学新闻与社会发展研究中心主任表示，政府应发挥主导作用，采取、制定与公众期望和利益紧密相连的措施和政策。然而，政策的执行最终将依靠公众参与。

超过 93.4% 的受调查对象表示他们已经对气候变化有所了解，然而有 6.6% 的人说他们从没听说过。

约 60% 的人认为气候变化主要是由人类活动导致的，而 认为是由环境引起的人占 33% 的比例。 国际发展改革委员会气候变化部门副主任孙振说，这些数据听起来让人满意，但是在中国，气候变化带来的压力越来越大。同时，他还强调，当今世界正面临更多诸如飓风，旱涝灾害等与天气极其相关的事件，我们的政府有义务向大家阐明气候变化对造成这些事件的影响程度。 中国气候变化通讯中心执行董事王彬彬说，应对气候变化也要呼吁公众加入到低碳生活和消费的行列。令人惊喜的是许多中国人都很乐意购买环保的商品。 87% 的调查对象说他们很愿意多花一点钱买环保商品，而有超过34% 的人说他们能够接受环保商品的价格上涨 30% 。 调查报告同时还表明， 18 到 24岁的人更愿意购买环保商品。 超过 80% 的受访者表示他们支持政府制定强制垃圾分类和回收的标准，采用绿色建材，生产更环保的汽车，即使这需要更高的成本。

Thank you!