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?

• 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.

Q. To what extent would you support or oppose the following government actions?

• The majority of people would support the introduction of many of the changes to policy listed. 70% support greater government funding for installation of rooftop solar panels and household battery storage, and 63% support the introduction of a levy to high carbon-emitting industries.
• 61% of people support both setting a nationwide ‘net zero’ carbon emission target for 2030, and the closure of all fossil fuel-burning power stations, and transition to renewables and battery storage by 2030. Just over half (53%) support the end of public funding for coal and gas mining in Australia.
• 47% are in favour of the phase-out of new petrol cars by 2030.

• Those aged 18-34 have higher support than those aged over 55 for all measures, except greater funding for rooftop solar and household battery storage.
• Coalition voters and those voting for a minor party or independent candidate have the lowest support for the introduction of all these measures. Labor and Greens voters are the most likely to support all measures.

Q. Do you believe that there is fairly conclusive evidence that climate change is happening and caused by human activity or do you believe that the evidence is still not in and we may just be witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate which happens from time to time?

• Over half (56%) of Australians now believe climate change is happening and is caused by human activity, similar to recent results earlier in 2021 (58%) and 2020 (56%)
• The proportion of those who are undecided on the cause of climate change has increased from earlier in the year to 16% (from 10% in January). Less than a third (27%) believe we are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate.

•  Acceptance that climate change is happening and is caused by human activity is highest among Greens voters (81%) and Labor voters (70%).
• Those who think changes are a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate is highest among Coalition voters (40%), those over 55 (35%) and men (33%).

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

• Most people think Australia is not doing enough to address climate change (45%), with 12% who think Australia is doing too much to address climate change. Consistent with previous years, 13% don’t know.
• Fewer people now think Australia is doing enough to address climate change (30% from 35% in January).

• Greens and Labor voters are now both the most likely to think Australia is not doing enough to address climate change (64% respectively). Labor voters are more likely to think the country is not doing enough compered to earlier in the year (56% in January).
• Compared to other voters, Coalition voters are the most likely to think enough is being done (47%), and those voting for minor or independent parties are the most likely to think Australia is doing too much for climate change (24%).
• Women are more likely to think not enough is being done to address climate change than men (49% to 41% respectively), although men are more likely to think this compared to earlier in the year (36%).

Q. Scott Morrison recently attended the G7 summit in the UK along with other world leaders from Japan, France and US, among others.

Climate change was one of the main issues on the agenda. Each G7 nation has signed up to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 but Australia is yet to do so.

Meanwhile, the European Union has proposed introducing carbon tariffs on products from countries which are not ambitious enough on climate change to force action on cutting emissions.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

• 67% agree that Australian businesses have the opportunity to develop expertise in renewable energy and innovative technologies that other countries will demand, and 65% agree that Australian manufacturing could benefit from cheap electricity if more solar and wind farms were built. Agreement with these statements is high across all gender, age groups and party lines measured.
• 59% respectively agree that Australia needs to follow other countries’ lead and make climate change a priority, or risk being left behind, and Australia cannot afford to be locked out of the EU or other trade markets for failing to adopt a net zero emissions target by 2050. Agreement with these statements is lowest among Coalition voters and minor or independent party voters.

Q. In a recent speech, Scott Morrison stated Australia’s goal is to “…reach net zero emissions as soon as possible, and preferably by 2050”.

However, the Prime Minister did not formally commit to this goal or specify how the federal government plans to achieve it.

‘Net zero’ carbon emissions means a situation when Australia’s carbon emissions become less than or equal to the amount of carbon we are removing from the atmosphere.

Which of the following is closer to your view?

• Most people prefer the government to set concrete targets for reducing emissions, rather than setting a target date for achieving net zero emissions in the future.
• Over half (58%) of people think it is more important that we set realistic targets for reducing our emissions by 2030, than having a target date for achieving net zero. This is the prevalent view across all voting intentions.
• Just over a third (32%) think we need to set a target for when we will get carbon emissions down to ‘net zero’, and worry about setting dates for reductions along the way later. 9% think we shouldn’t have targets for reducing carbon emissions.

Q. The deputy PM Michael McCormack says agriculture could be excluded from the new 2050 net zero emissions target because regional Australia is still recovering from drought, bushfires, flood and the Covid-19 pandemic, and this target will “…hurt regional Australia”.

To what extent do you support or oppose this proposition to exclude agriculture from the new 2050 net zero emissions target? 

• More people support excluding agriculture from the 2050 net zero emissions target than those who oppose this proposition (44% vs 32%).
• About a quarter (24%) are unsure.
• Compared to other voters, Greens voters are the most likely to oppose this exclusion (48%) and Coalition voters are the most likely to support it (55%).

Q. Thinking about the bushfires in some parts of the country, which of the following statements is closest to your view?

•  Just under half (49%) of people think it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue, the highest proportion in the last three years (up from 44% this time last year). Correspondingly, fewer think it is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change (20%, down from 26%).
• About the same amount of people as previous years think it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change, but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time (18%).

•  About a third (32%) of those over 55 think it is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change, the highest among the three age brackets.
• More people aged 18-34 think it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change, but it is inappropriate to publicly raise this issue at this this time, than those aged 35-54 and those over 55 (26% to 17% and 12% respectively).
• The view that it is likely that the bushfires are linked to climate change and it is appropriate to publicly raise this issue is high; this is highest among Greens voters (65%), followed by Labor voters (58%), Coalition voters (42%) and other voters (42%).
• Minor and independent party voters and Coalition voters are the most likely to think it is unlikely the bushfires are linked to climate change (32% and 28% respectively).