Addressing climate change
Q. As far as you know, do you think Australia is doing enough, not enough or too much to address climate change?
| Jan’21 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Mar’19 | Dec’18 | Oct’18 | Sep’17 | Aug’16 | |
| Not doing enough | 42% | 62% | 60% | 51% | 53% | 56% | 56% | 52% |
| Doing enough | 35% | 19% | 22% | 27% | 24% | 23% | 20% | 22% |
| Doing too much | 10% | 8% | 8% | 11% | 9% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
| Don’t know | 13% | 11% | 10% | 12% | 14% | 13% | 16% | 18% |
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,081 | 1,083 | 1,089 | 1,032 | 1,027 | 1,011 | 1,022 |
- Over a third (35%) of people think Australia is doing enough to address climate change, the highest proportion in the last five years.
- 42% still think not enough is being done, however this is a significant drop from last year (62%) and the years before.
- 10% think Australia is doing too much to address climate change and 13% don’t know. Both figures are similar to previous years.
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| Not doing enough | 42% | 36% | 48% | 40% | 41% | 45% | 56% | 28% | 69% | 39% | ||
| Doing enough | 35% | 38% | 33% | 33% | 34% | 39% | 29% | 52% | 17% | 28% | ||
| Doing too much | 10% | 15% | 4% | 9% | 13% | 7% | 6% | 12% | 7% | 21% | ||
| Don’t know | 13% | 11% | 15% | 17% | 12% | 9% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 12% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,084 | 539 | 545 | 341 | 358 | 385 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 | ||
- Greens voters are the most likely to think Australia is not doing enough to address climate change (69%), followed by Labor voters (56%).
- Compared to other voters, Coalition voters are the most likely to think enough is being done (52%), and those voting for minor and independent parties are the most likely to think Australia is doing too much for climate change (21%).
- Women are more likely to think not enough is being done to address climate change than men (48% to 36% respectively).
Doing enough to address climate change
Q. As far as you know, do you think Australia is doing enough, not enough or too much to address climate change?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote Other | ||
| Doing enough | 24% | 16% | 42% | 4% | 16% | |
| Not doing enough | 53% | 69% | 35% | 91% | 61% | |
| Doing too much | 7% | 4% | 8% | 3% | 13% | |
| Don’t know | 16% | 11% | 16% | 3% | 10% |
53% think Australia is not doing enough to address climate change and 24% think Australia is doing enough.
Those most likely to think Australia is not dong enough were aged 18-34 (63%) and university educated (62%).
Countries doing enough on climate change
Q. As far as you know, do you think the following countries are doing enough, not enough or too much to address climate change?
| Doing enough | Not doing enough | Doing too much | Don’t know | Doing enough
Dec 2014 |
Not doing enough Dec 2014 | ||
| Australia | 28% | 53% | 6% | 14% | 26% | 51% | |
| USA | 18% | 57% | 3% | 23% | 17% | 53% | |
| China | 11% | 69% | 1% | 19% | 9% | 63% |
53% of respondents think Australia is not doing enough to address climate change – while 57% think the USA is not doing enough and 69% think China is not doing enough. Only 28% think that Australia is doing enough.
Those most likely to think Australia is not doing enough were aged 18-34 (60%), Greens voters (95%), Labor voters (69%) and people with university education (65%).
Action on climate change
Q. Which of the following actions on climate change would you most support?
|
Total |
|
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other |
|
Sep 14 |
|
| Incentives for renewable energy |
45% |
49% |
44% |
46% |
57% |
50% |
||
| An emissions trading scheme |
14% |
19% |
9% |
27% |
5% |
12% |
||
| The Government’s direct action policy |
10% |
9% |
11% |
11% |
7% |
10% |
||
| No action required |
11% |
6% |
18% |
2% |
21% |
11% |
||
| Don’t know |
20% |
17% |
18% |
15% |
9% |
17% |
In taking action on climate change, 45% most support incentives for renewable energy, 14% most support an emissions trading scheme and 10% most support the Government‘s direct action policy – while 11% say no action is required. This represents a drop in support for incentives for renewable energy since this question was asked in September.
All groups are most likely to support incentives for renewable energy. Those more likely to support an emissions trading scheme were aged 18-24 (26%) and Greens voters (27%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
Sign up for updates
Receive the Essential Report in your inbox.Essential Tags
Recent Comments
