- Fewer than half (47%) of Emaswati say they have heard of climate change
- Awareness of climate change is higher among men (50%) and urbanites (51%) than women (44%) and rural residents (46%).
- Awareness rises with respondents’ level of education, ranging from 38% among those with primary or no formal education to 62% among those with post secondary education, and decreases with respondents’ level of lived poverty, ranging from 52% among the wealthy to 40% among the poor.
- Among citizens who are aware of climate change: Nearly nine in 10 (87%) say it is making life in Eswatini worse, an 8-percentage point increase compared to 2022
- Fully nine in 10 (90%) believe that rich or developed countries should take immediate steps to limit climate change in the future, while eight in 10 (80%) say the government must act to limit climate change, even if it is expensive, causes job losses, or takes a toll on the economy
- Almost half (48%) assign primary responsibility for fighting climate change to rich or developed countries, while half as many say the government is primarily responsible (24%)
- The share who say ordinary citizens should shoulder the burden dropped from 39% in 2022 to 7% in 2025.
- Among all respondents, majorities express support for investing in climate-resilient infrastructure (82%), putting pressure on rich countries to provide climate aid (82%), and investing in wind and solar technologies, even if it raises the price of electricity
- But fewer than half endorse promoting e-buses and e-taxis (38%), mandating the use of cleaner fuel in cookstoves (29%), and banning tree cutting for firewood and charcoal (28%) if those policies increase costs.
- At least one-sixth of Emaswati report having to adjust their lives in response to changing weather patterns by using less water or changing water sources (32%), changing the types of crops they plant or the foods they eat (29%), reducing or rescheduling outdoor work (29%), and relocating. Among citizens with livestock, 21% have had to reduce their livestock holdings or adjust grazing patterns.
Among nearly half of Emaswati who are aware of climate change, most say it is making life in their country worse, a new Afrobarometer survey reveals. Large majorities call for immediate action from the government and developed countries to limit its effects.
Nearly half of climate-change-aware citizens assign primary responsibility for fighting climate change to rich or developed countries, while roughly one-fourth say their own government must take the lead.
Among all respondents, more than eight in 10 express support for pressuring rich countries to provide resources to help Eswatini deal with changes in weather conditions. Large majorities of citizens endorse investing in wind and solar technologies, even if it increases the price of electricity, and in infrastructure to increase resilience to floods and droughts.
In substantial numbers, Emaswati report having to adjust their lives in response to changing weather patterns in the past five years, including about three in 10 who say they have had to use less water or change water sources, change the types of crops they plant or the foods they eat, and reduce or reschedule outdoor work.