VietNamNet Bridge – An HSBC Holdings Plc survey has found climate change as the number one concern for people in Vietnam.

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Over two-fifths (43%) of 1,000 Vietnamese respondents said climate change and how to respond to it are among their biggest concerns these days, according to HSBC’s Climate Confidence Monitor.

The online survey – which was done by Lightspeed, one of the world’s leading online market research companies, in August and September 2010 – interviewed a minimum of 1,000 people in each of 15 markets.

Vietnamese respondents demonstrated the strongest personal commitment to reduce climate change impacts. About 31% of respondents said they would make energy saving efforts at home, 29% would reduce home heating and air-conditioning, and 17% would recycle household waste.

Large-scale government funded initiatives are highly expected with 53% of the surveyed people believe they will have greater effects in the combat against climate change trends.

Vietnamese people also showed good will of combating climate change rather than saving money through utilizing the products that are lower in prices but not so environmentally friendly. This is the primary driver for Vietnamese families to take low-carbon actions such as paying a higher price for more energy efficient products, recycling household waste and eating less meat, according to the survey.

The survey found 43% of Vietnamese respondents would pay a higher price for energy-efficient products, higher than the global average of 40% and countries such as the U.S. with 26% and Japan with 23%.

Matthew Martin, chief technology and service officer and chairman of the Corporate Sustainability Steering Committee of HSBC Vietnam, said in the statement, “The climate business sector is growing fast and emerging markets are leading the way. Governments are pushing ahead with decarbonising their economies and businesses are responding by producing more low carbon goods and services.”

The survey also showed climate change is one of the top three concerns globally, on a par with economic stability and terrorism.

The HSBC Climate Confidence Monitor focuses on consumers’ attitude and behavior towards climate change revealing global trends and implications for roles to be taken by governments, businesses, NGOs and individuals worldwide.

Respondents were set to be nationally representative in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK and the U.S. Meanwhile, respondents in Brazil, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore and Vietnam were representative of the online population. For the first time Vietnam had been included in the annual survey.

VietNamNet/SGT