Knowing About Climate Change Doesn't Mean Seeing It as a Threat

While people in the world's wealthiest countries are more aware of climate change than people in poorer countries, they are much less likely to see it as a threat, according to new research in the first fully global study on climate change opinions and attitudes.

In the Gallup poll results in 119 countries, researchers found major differences between climate change awareness levels and concern about climate crisis.

According the findings, education is the biggest predictor of awareness of climate change, while being concerned about it has more to do with understanding the human causes of environmental crisis and how close to home the major impacts will hit.

Do you know one? - Billions of People Have Never Heard of #ClimateChange” http://t.co/Jz9W2NyUrL pic.twitter.com/szi0pTq5HI

— Greenpeace (@Greenpeace) July 28, 2015

In some of the world's richest countries, including the U.S., Australia, and the U.K., more than three quarters of the population are aware of climate change, yet only just over half consider it to be a threat, seeing it as a distant issue.

Meanwhile, in South American countries, as well as Mexico, India, Tanzania, and Morocco, perception of climate change as a serious risk topped 90 percent.

RELATED: Is Climate Change Leading to Floods, Droughts in Chile?

Worldwide, 40 percent of the global population is not aware that climate change exists, according to the study. But education level and literacy are major determinants for why some people have never heard of global warming. For example, just 21 percent of the population in the poor West African nation of Benin are aware of climate change.

The report suggests that basic education to address literacy gaps as well as country-specific education on the local impacts of climate change are crucial to increase public awareness and concern about climate change and foster widespread support for climate action.

#ClimateChangeIsReal, but 40 percent of adults worldwide have never heard of it http://t.co/sOB3GQqj94 pic.twitter.com/IDhIXp6U3t

— Greenpeace (@Greenpeace) July 28, 2015

The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like heatwaves are expected to increase with climate change. Scientists have warned that the world could face climate and public health catastrophe in 10 years if decisive action is not taken.

RELATED: India Heat Wave: The Weather of Tomorrow, Today

The new research comes just months ahead of the U.N. climate talks where international climate agreements will be signed.

Environmental organizations and activists have criticized the lack of adequate proposed commitments in the lead-up to the talks, such as phasing out fossil fuels by the end of the century, and have called on governments to agree to take more decisive climate action.

RELATED: UN Warns of Global Warming Surge