Ecobiz.asia — More than 80% of people in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are concerned about climate change, while a majority support a rapid phase-out of coal power as part of efforts to tackle the climate crisis, according to a new YouGov survey commissioned by climate advocacy group Market Forces.
The YouGov survey was conducted in March 2026 involving 4,000 respondents across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia
The survey, found that 81% of respondents in Singapore, 84% in Malaysia, and 96% in Indonesia were moderately to extremely concerned about climate change.
The poll also showed growing public support for accelerating the transition away from coal. Around 61% of Singaporeans, 65% of Indonesians, and 58% of Malaysians agreed that rapidly phasing out coal-fired power generation is one of the most effective ways to address climate change.
Indonesia recorded the highest level of support among the three countries, despite remaining one of the region’s largest coal producers and users.
The survey further found that more than three in five respondents across the three Southeast Asian countries believe banks financing coal mining and coal-fired power projects are worsening climate change.
“There’s overwhelming concern about climate change in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia and most people agree that rapidly ending coal mining and power will protect us from dangerous global warming,” said Bernadette Maheandiran, Asia Energy Finance Director at Market Forces as quoted on Friday (May 22, 2026).
A majority of respondents also said banks should stop financing companies and projects with high greenhouse gas emissions. The survey showed that 73% of respondents in Singapore, 71% in Indonesia, and 71% in Malaysia opposed bank financing for high-emission businesses.
The research indicated potential reputational risks for financial institutions continuing to support coal expansion. Around 43% of Indonesians, 36% of Malaysians, and 28% of Singaporeans said they would consider switching banks if they discovered their bank still financed new coal projects.
The poll also highlighted growing scrutiny over industrial coal use linked to critical mineral processing. Around 69% of respondents in Singapore, 66% in Indonesia, and 59% in Malaysia said commitments to stop financing new coal projects should also apply to captive coal plants built specifically to power industrial facilities such as nickel and aluminium smelters.
In addition, a majority of respondents in all three countries said nickel could not be considered “green” if it is produced using coal-fired power. The highest level of concern was recorded in Indonesia at 61%, followed by Malaysia at 54% and Singapore at 52%.
“Banks in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia must recognise that funding coal poses serious risks to the climate, the economy and threatens the loss of a third of their customers,” Maheandiran said. ***
