Levels of climate concern ranges from high to higher: "The lowest level of concern was in Russia, where we saw that 67 percent of respondents were at least somewhat concerned. In Brazil, 87 percent of respondents are at least somewhat concerned, rising to a whopping 89 percent in India." What do people worry about most when it comes to climate change? "If you look at Mexico or South Africa, for example, they worry about drought, whereas if you look across the other countries in the survey the main concern tends to be things like forest fires." Democrats and other left-wing voters are deeply critical of Biden: "A whopping 91 percent (are at least somewhat concerned), whereas it's only 45 percent for Republicans. The broader political polarization that we see in the United States has really filtered through the questions surrounding climate change. In Europe, there's less of a gap in terms of how people who put themselves on the left and the right think about climate change." Consumers want companies to do more, but aren't keen to credit their efforts: "When you ask people who they think should be taking action to do things, as opposed to who has the power to do so, they really want companies to step up to the plate and do a bit more. Consumers say, 'We don't want these initiatives to be funded through (personal) taxes, and we don't want to pay for them in the form of rising costs for consumer goods.' And so I think for companies, it puts them in a tough spot." CLIMATE — GOOGLE PUSHES BACK AGAINST CARBON CRITICISM: A Brussels-based Google spokesperson didn't mince words in replying to a recent report by NewClimate Institute and Carbon Market Watch that questioned the company's climate efforts, and which was featured in Monday's newsletter. The spokesperson shared a range of statistics and reports with Global Insider, including the company's assessment that two-thirds of the energy powering its operations is already produced without emitting any carbon. The spokesperson said: "Had the authors of the report reached out we would've been able to point them to this public information" and that the company "clearly defines the scope of our climate commitments and regularly reports on our progress in our annual Environmental Report, where our energy and greenhouse gas emissions data is assured by Ernst & Young. Our new goal is to achieve net-zero emissions across all of our operations and value chain by 2030." CANADA — OTTAWA OCCUPATION LATEST: Andy Blatchford distills the scene for POLITICO Dispatch. On the ground: There were 22 arrests Tuesday, bringing to 79 the number of active criminal investigations. Children are living in approximately 100 of the 419 trucks "encamped" in the city: Police say their risks include excessive noise, carbon monoxide from truck fumes, poor sanitation and risks from excessive cold. At the border: In related news Tuesday , there's a shut down at the busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing. Plans for a trucker protest in the U.S. gain momentum. On March 5, a convoy will head out from California toward Washington, D.C. Brussels braces for its turn on Feb. 14, when an EU-wide protest will descend on the bloc's de facto capital. IRAN — HIGH-LEVEL NUCLEAR TALKS RESUME IN VIENNA: Talks are officially back on , but we're still driving around in circles. The message from U.S. officials to journalists is that one way or another, a resolution to these never-ending talks (in which the U.S. is not directly participating), is needed in February. Members of Congress from both parties insist they have the right to approve any changes to the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. UKRAINE CORNER EU OFFERS MORE TALKS AND PUSHES DE-ESCALATION IN NEW LETTER TO MOSCOW: Scoop this morning from POLITICO's Jacopo Barigazzi . The letter, a draft of which was seen by POLITICO, represents the EU's collective response to a recent memo Russia sent to EU countries. It was signed by the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell. Russian military exercises are scheduled to start Thursday, and Moscow has warships sailing toward the Black Sea. Why Germany pipes down when Nord Stream 2 talk turns to sanctions . The Finlandization of Ukraine: You see this idea crop up more and more in online discussions — that Ukraine should be boxed in the way Austria was by treaty in 1955 and Finland was by choice in the 1940s: as an officially neutral country. Joint Statement from the U.S.- EU Energy Council: No specific deals but strong commitments to support each other to keep clear of Russian energy dependence. NEW POLL: MAJORITIES IN EUROPE BELIEVE RUSSIA WILL INVADE: Europeans also say they want EU countries and NATO to come to Ukraine's defense. A survey by the European Council for Foreign Relations found slim majorities for defending Ukraine among major powers: Germany (52 percent), France (51 percent) and Italy (51 percent), but much higher support among populations that have lived under Moscow's thumb in the past: Poland (73 percent) and Romania (64 percent). Only in neutral Finland is there no majority for Ukraine defense (44 percent). ECFR's experts told Global Insider that when it comes to defending Ukraine following any invasion, European populations trust the EU, NATO and Germany (specifically) more than they trust the U.S. Poland is the population most likely to worry about energy dependence on Russia, and to accept the costs and risks of supporting Ukraine following an invasion. ECFR's Mark Leonard said: "The data we've collected suggests something of a geopolitical awakening in Europe," including that "war in Europe is thinkable once again." GEOPOLITICS — GREECE EDGES CLOSER TO U.S. AT RUSSIA'S EXPENSE: Greece is hosting more American troops and buying U.S. energy, frustrating Russia, reports Nektaria Stamouli. COVID — DISPUTE OVER VACCINE IP LOOMS AT EU-AU SUMMIT: POLITICO's Ashleigh Furlong reports the African Union has presented a draft summit declaration that would come out of the EU-AU summit, and one thing is clear — the African negotiations don't want mention of an "Africa — Europe Alliance," (they prefer to call it a "renewed AU-EU Partnership") and insist on a reference to waiving Covid vaccine intellectual property rights to support quicker and fairer distribution. The paragraph states: "The African Union reiterated its support for the TRIPS Waiver request and urged the European Union to engage constructively towards conclusion of a targeted and time limited waiver."
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