It’s Earth Day soon, a time when people unite to support environmental protection. This year’s theme is “our power, our planet.” While awareness of climate change has grown since the first Earth Day in 1970, many Britons are not fully on board with current climate policies.
Most people in Britain acknowledge climate change. In fact, 84% believe it is happening. However, 17% of those who think climate change is real do not believe it’s caused by human activity. This viewpoint contrasts with the 67% who accept that human actions are driving these changes.
Interestingly, many British citizens, about 62%, think that worries about climate change are justified. Yet, 23% feel these concerns are exaggerated. The divide is notable among political parties. Supporters of the Green Party overwhelmingly accept scientific findings, with 88-90% believing in human-caused climate change. In contrast, a significant portion of Reform UK voters—61%—thinks concerns about climate change have been exaggerated, which is indicative of a broader skepticism around environmental policies.
While the majority of Britons recognize that climate change is a pressing issue, they are growing more doubtful about government action on it. A survey from January 2020 revealed that 37% of people wanted increased government spending on the environment. Fast forward to now, and just 17% believe it should get more funding, with 29% advocating for cuts in this area.
The importance of climate change among the public seems to be slipping. Only 15% of Britons view it as one of the top issues facing the country, a decrease from 40% in November 2021 during the COP26 climate conference. This slide highlights a disconnect between public perception and the urgency of climate policies.
Interestingly, even among Green Party voters, only 51% consider climate change a top issue today. This is stark when compared to 89% of Reform UK voters who prioritize immigration. Other political groups show varying degrees of concern, with just 21% of Labour supporters and 5% of Reform UK supporters prioritizing environmental issues.
Despite these concerns, a growing number of Britons feel the government is doing a decent job on environmental issues, with 27% claiming they are satisfied with the current approach. This is better than the public’s view on other matters like the NHS and the economy, indicating a slight silver lining.
Furthermore, many Britons (41%) feel the UK is proactive in meeting carbon reduction targets compared to other nations, the highest level of confidence recorded in a YouGov survey. Only 10% believe the UK is lagging behind.
In this shifting landscape, it’s clear that while climate change awareness remains high, skepticism towards political action is on the rise. It’s a complex issue that requires careful attention, not just from leaders but from all of us.
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