Public concern about climate change spiked in August, with the proportion of people listing it as one of the most important issues facing the country doubling when compared to the previous month, according to a new survey from Ipsos Mori.
Nearly a third of respondents (32 per cent) identified climate change, pollution and the environment as a major issue for Britain – up from 16 per cent in July – putting it second only to the coronavirus pandemic in the polling company’s monthly index.
The is the second highest level of concern recorded in the index since environment issues were added to the poll as an option in 1988. Concern peaked in July 1989 when 35 per cent of people mentioned environmental issues as a worry after the highest temperate since 1976 was recorded at Heathrow.
The survey of more than 1,000 British adults was conducted between 6 and 13 August – a period which included the launch of the sixth assessment report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Issues further down the list included the economy (28 per cent), Brexit (19 per cent) and poverty and inequality (18 per cent).
Ipsos Mori research manager Mike Clemence said: “Public concern about the environment has reached an historically high level this month, with publication of the new IPCC report and reports of fires and flooding around the world. But this jump in concern is built on a steady rise in the level of worry on this topic which has been building since around 2015.”
Question: What do you see as the most important/other important issues facing Britain today?
Ipsos Mori said older people were more likely than average to describe the environment as an important issue, with 38 per cent of over 55s listing it as a concern compared to 24 per cent of those aged 18 to 34.
There was also a split between classes, with 37 per cent of those in social grades A, B and C1 identifying it as an important issue compared to 28 per cent of those in grades C2, D and E.
However, there was no divide along party-political lines with supporters of the Conservatives and Labour parties, as well as those with no party affiliation, all mentioning the issue at similar rates of 30 per cent, 33 per cent and 28 per cent respectively.
Concern about the environment, climate change and pollution
