Public confidence in efforts to protect the environment is climbing worldwide, even as many key indicators show the planet’s health continuing to decline.
New data from Gallup shows that a median of 57% of adults across more than 140 countries said they were satisfied with environmental protection efforts in 2025, marking a notable increase from recent years and the highest level recorded in two decades.
The findings highlight a growing disconnect between public perception and measurable environmental outcomes. While satisfaction has risen steadily since 2022, many environmental benchmarks — including global temperatures, biodiversity, and forest coverage — have moved in the opposite direction.
Researchers say the divide stems in part from how people interpret environmental progress. Many respondents tend to evaluate conditions based on their immediate surroundings rather than global trends, such as climate change or species loss.
The data also points to a strong link between trust in government and satisfaction with environmental efforts. In countries where confidence in national leadership is higher, people are more likely to view environmental protection efforts positively, regardless of actual performance metrics.
That relationship appears to cut both ways, with rising confidence in government coinciding with increased satisfaction globally in recent years.
In the United States, however, the trend is moving in the opposite direction. Just 42% of Americans reported being satisfied with environmental protection efforts, a sharp drop from a high of 60% in 2014 and well below the average among other developed nations.
Gallup researchers say the findings raise questions about how public opinion could shape future policy. If satisfaction continues to rise globally despite worsening environmental conditions, pressure for stronger environmental action could weaken over time.
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