Essential Report
Concern about climate threats to Australia listed in IPCC report
Q. A recently released report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that changes to the earth’s climate are “unequivocally the result of human actions”, and increased global temperatures will cause unprecedented changes to the earth’s climate unless drastic action is taken over the next 10 years.
To what extent are you concerned about each of the following threats to Australia which the IPCC has listed in the report?
TOTAL: Concerned | TOTAL:
Not Concerned |
Very concerned | Moderately concerned | Not that concerned | Not concerned at all | |
More extreme and frequent bushfires, with longer fire seasons | 81% | 19% | 43% | 38% | 14% | 6% |
Increased frequency of droughts in drier areas | 79% | 21% | 40% | 39% | 15% | 6% |
Increased sea temperatures damaging marine ecosystems | 76% | 24% | 37% | 39% | 18% | 6% |
More frequent heavy rainfall causing river floods and worse storms | 75% | 25% | 32% | 42% | 19% | 6% |
Sea levels around Australia continuing to rise, causing coastal erosion and threatening communities | 72% | 28% | 32% | 40% | 20% | 8% |
- There is high concern for all impacts of climate change affecting Australia identified in the latest IPCC report.
- 81% say they are concerned about the threat of more extreme and frequent bushfires (43% very concerned), and 79% are concerned about the increased frequency of drought in drier areas (40% very concerned).
- Despite having the lowest concern of the threats, 72% of people say they are concerned with rising sea levels causing coastal erosion.
TOTAL:
Concerned |
Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
More extreme and frequent bushfires, with longer fire seasons | 81% | 76% | 85% | 81% | 83% | 78% | 87% | 75% | 92% | 75% | ||
Increased frequency of droughts in drier areas | 79% | 76% | 82% | 77% | 84% | 76% | 84% | 74% | 91% | 76% | ||
Increased sea temperatures damaging marine ecosystems | 76% | 71% | 80% | 78% | 80% | 70% | 83% | 68% | 93% | 67% | ||
More frequent heavy rainfall causing river floods and worse storms | 75% | 69% | 80% | 76% | 79% | 69% | 81% | 68% | 87% | 65% | ||
Sea levels around Australia continuing to rise, causing coastal erosion and threatening communities | 72% | 66% | 78% | 73% | 77% | 67% | 80% | 64% | 91% | 68% | ||
Base (n) | 1,100 | 538 | 562 | 341 | 374 | 385 | 376 | 384 | 116 | 122 |

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