British Public Unconvinced By Climate Crisis
July 3, 2007
Daily Express
Global warming?!?!: Traffic drives through a flooded motorway. Many areas of Northern England have been hit by flooding and colder than normal weather this summer.
Findings by Ipsos Mori show Britons believe that the issue is not as bad as the scientists and politicians claim.
There is also scepticism about "greenspin" and a feeling that the situation is being overstated in order to raise revenue rather than save the planet.
In fact climate change is not a priority for most people in the UK - terrorism, crime, graffiti and even dog mess are of more concern.
After interviewing over two thousand adults last month, Ipsos Mori concluded that the public is sceptical about global warming and believes politicians and scientists have exaggerated the situation through ‘green spin’.
And according to the findings, 56% of Brits believe scientists have still yet to reach a consensus on the impact of humans on the climate.
“We are alive to climate change and very few people actually reject out of hand the idea the climate is changing or that humans have had at least some part to play in this,” said Phil Downing, head of environmental research at Ipsos Mori. “However, a significant number have many doubts about exactly how serious it really is and believe it has been over-hyped.”
Last week Global Cool reported a separate survey that suggested the nation’s kids are apathetic towards the planet. But despite the ostensible doom and gloom of the Ipsos Mori poll, the findings do suggest the climate change argument is still to be won or lost.
“We do care about the environment but we simply enjoy behaviours such as flying, driving and owning a plasma TV too much to countenance giving them up,” added Mr Downing. “The Government needs to find new ways to sell low-carbon lifestyles to the public and that any changes they make will be matched by others as part of a collective solution.”
express.co.uk
July 3, 2007
Daily Express
Global warming?!?!: Traffic drives through a flooded motorway. Many areas of Northern England have been hit by flooding and colder than normal weather this summer.
Findings by Ipsos Mori show Britons believe that the issue is not as bad as the scientists and politicians claim.
There is also scepticism about "greenspin" and a feeling that the situation is being overstated in order to raise revenue rather than save the planet.
In fact climate change is not a priority for most people in the UK - terrorism, crime, graffiti and even dog mess are of more concern.
After interviewing over two thousand adults last month, Ipsos Mori concluded that the public is sceptical about global warming and believes politicians and scientists have exaggerated the situation through ‘green spin’.
And according to the findings, 56% of Brits believe scientists have still yet to reach a consensus on the impact of humans on the climate.
“We are alive to climate change and very few people actually reject out of hand the idea the climate is changing or that humans have had at least some part to play in this,” said Phil Downing, head of environmental research at Ipsos Mori. “However, a significant number have many doubts about exactly how serious it really is and believe it has been over-hyped.”
Last week Global Cool reported a separate survey that suggested the nation’s kids are apathetic towards the planet. But despite the ostensible doom and gloom of the Ipsos Mori poll, the findings do suggest the climate change argument is still to be won or lost.
“We do care about the environment but we simply enjoy behaviours such as flying, driving and owning a plasma TV too much to countenance giving them up,” added Mr Downing. “The Government needs to find new ways to sell low-carbon lifestyles to the public and that any changes they make will be matched by others as part of a collective solution.”
express.co.uk