The world fears ISIS and climate change, says research center

WASHINGTON — Individuals in 38 countries have identified the Islamic State group and climate change as top security threats, according to Pew Research Center.

In a survey conducted in 38 countries, Pew asked 41,953 people what they think is a top concern for their country. Sixty-two percent believe the Islamic State group is a major threat. Meanwhile, 61 percent cited climate change.

ISIS is named as the very top security threat in 18 of the countries surveyed, many of whom have endured deadly attacks claimed by the militant organization, according to Pew. This top-perceived threat spans across regions, with Latin America being the least concerned.

Information on median Middle Eastern concern was not calculated because, as a rule, Pew does not calculate medians when less than four countries are included from the region, according to a Pew spokesman. He also said that Turkey was not asked about ISIS because experts believed the query would be a security issue itself.

Cyberattacks are also an area of concern, with 51 percent of respondents listing it as a major threat. According to the report, this concern is centered in Japan, the U.S., Germany and the United Kingdom, who have fallen victim to high-profile cyberattacks in recent months.

Other Pew findings include:

• 72 percent of respondents in Turkey view the power and influence of the U.S. as a top threat.

• The U.S. saw a 22 percent difference between conservatives and liberals in rating ISIS as a major threat.

• 88 percent of respondents in Greece rated the international economy as the top threat.

• More than 80 percent of Vietnam and South Korea view China’s power and influence as a top threat.

• 66 percent of Hungarians rated the large number of refugees from Syria and Iraq as the top threat.

• Older people tended to view ISIS as a greater threat.

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