Most Europeans taking action to reduce CO2 emissions

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The majority (59 percent) of Europeans have taken steps to reduce their carbon footprints, the latest Eurobarometer survey has highlighted.

People living in Sweden (82 percent), the UK (77 percent), Slovenia (77 percent) and Ireland (74 percent) were the most likely to have made lifestyle changes to reduce their own emissions.

Carried out by the European Commission, the study focused on the attitudes of EU consumers to the fight against climate change.

Encouragingly, the results indicated that most people believe the seriousness of climate change has not been exaggerated and that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are having a significant impact on the process.

Interestingly, 75 percent of respondents were keen for alternative fuels to be used to reduce CO2 emissions, up from 70 percent in spring 2008.

The strongest support for alternative fuels was found in Greece (90 percent), Denmark (87 percent), Slovenia (86 percent) and Slovakia (86 percent).

Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) also agreed with the statement that fighting climate change by reducing emissions across the continent could have a beneficial impact on the European economy, a rise of 6 percent since the previous survey.

Sweden will be hoping to continue setting an example on emissions as it heads up the EU presidency for the next six months, during which time a UN summit on climate change is scheduled to take place in Copenhagen.