The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

Addressing climate change

12 Oct 2021

Q. As far as you know, do you think Australia is doing enough, not enough or too much to address climate change? 

Oct’21 Jun’21 Jan’21 Jun’20 Mar’20 Jan’20 Nov’19 Mar’19 Dec’18 Oct’18 Sep’17 Aug’16
Not doing enough 42% 45% 42% 52% 55% 62% 60% 51% 53% 56% 56% 52%
Doing enough 31% 30% 35% 25% 23% 19% 22% 27% 24% 23% 20% 22%
Doing too much 15% 12% 10% 10% 9% 8% 8% 11% 9% 7% 8% 8%
Don’t know 11% 13% 13% 13% 13% 11% 10% 12% 14% 13% 16% 18%
Base (n) 1,097 1,087 1,084 1,079 1,090 1,081 1,083 1,089 1,032 1,027 1,011 1,022

 

  Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
  Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
Not doing enough 42% 41% 43% 38% 44% 44% 56% 26% 58% 39%
Doing enough 31% 31% 32% 33% 25% 36% 27% 47% 17% 23%
Doing too much 15% 18% 12% 19% 17% 9% 8% 18% 18% 29%
Don’t know 11% 10% 13% 10% 14% 11% 9% 9% 7% 9%
Base (n) 1,097 540 557 342 366 389 362 414 94 138
  • Most people think Australia is not doing enough to address climate change (42%), with 31% who think we are doing enough and 15% who think Australia is doing too much to address climate change. Consistent with previous years, 11% don’t know.
  • Since June 2021, there has been a shift among women, those aged 18-34 and Labor voters – all of whom are less likely to think Australia is not doing enough to address climate change.
  • 43% of women say Australia is not doing enough (down from 49% in Jun’21), while 32% say we are doing enough (up from 27%).
  • 38% of women say Australia is not doing enough (down from 47% in Jun’21), while those saying Australia is doing too much has increased from 7% to 12%.
  • 56% of Labor voters say Australia is not doing enough (down from 64% in Jun’21), while 27% say we are doing enough (up from 19%).
Error: