US, UK more 'reluctant' to address climate change than China, says survey

The United States and the United Kingdom, although the two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, are more reluctant to address the problem of climate change as compared to countries like China, a survey has revealed.

International internet-based market research firm YouGov found that almost 17 percent people in the U.S. and seven percent in the U.K. did not "agree to any international agreement that addresses climate change," reported The Independent.

Their survey, which was carried out just months ahead of December's climate change talks in Paris, revealed that only one percent refuted global agreements on climate change In China and Indonesia, while 60 percent wanted their representatives to play an active role in setting ambitious targets to address the issue as quickly as possible.

The study further suggested that the reluctance to tackle the problem in the U.S. and the U.K. seemed to have emanated from the belief that there is no problem at all. On being asked, "how serious the problem was, if at all," at least 32 percent of the respondents said, "not at all or not very."

The unwillingness of the world's two major polluters as well as global powers may impact the climate change negotiations later this year. YouGov noted that a failure to reach an agreement in Paris would likely be met with disappointment throughout the world.

In December, global powers will converge in the French capital to discuss an international agreement that many believe could be humanity's last chance to limit the harmful impact of climate change on the world and the human race.

YouGov based its analysis on surveys conducted between May 22 and May 27. It said that in China, all questions were taken online, which could have had affected the results.