Essential Report
Climate change acceptance
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?
Q | Oct’21 | Jun’21 | Jan’21 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Mar’19 | Oct’18 | Sep’17 | Aug’16 |
Climate change is happening and is caused by human activity | 59% | 56% | 58% | 56% | 61% | 62% | 63% | 64% | 57% |
We are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate | 30% | 27% | 32% | 32% | 28% | 27% | 25% | 24% | 26% |
Don’t know | 11% | 16% | 10% | 13% | 11% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 17% |
Base (n) | 1,097 | 1,087 | 1,084 | 1,081 | 1,083 | 1,089 | 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 | ||||
Climate change is happening and is caused by human activity | 59% | 60% | 58% | 62% | 60% | 55% | 70% | 49% | 77% | 48% | ||
We are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate | 30% | 31% | 29% | 28% | 27% | 36% | 23% | 39% | 15% | 47% | ||
Don’t know | 11% | 9% | 12% | 10% | 13% | 9% | 7% | 12% | 7% | 6% | ||
Base (n) | 1,097 | 540 | 557 | 342 | 366 | 389 | 362 | 414 | 94 | 138 | ||
- The majority of people accept that climate change is happening and caused by human activity (59%). This is consistent with previous years.
- 30% think the changes in climate are part of a natural cycle and 11% are unsure. Those most likely to think we are witnessing a natural cycle include those aged over 55 (36%), Coalition voters (39%) and those voting for an independent or minor party (47%).
Climate change acceptance
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?
Jan’21 | Jan’20 | Nov’19 | Mar’19 | Oct’18 | Sep’17 | Aug’16 | |
Climate change is happening and is caused by human activity | 58% | 56% | 61% | 62% | 63% | 64% | 57% |
We are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate | 32% | 32% | 28% | 27% | 25% | 24% | 26% |
Don’t know | 10% | 13% | 11% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 17% |
Base (n) | 1,084 | 1,081 | 1,083 | 1,089 | 1,027 | 1,011 | 1,022 |
- There has been little shift in attitudes to the acceptance of climate change over recent years. Over half of people (58%) believe climate change is happening and is caused by human activity.
- Over a third still believe we are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate (32%) and 10% aren’t sure which they believe.
Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
Climate change is happening and is caused by human activity | 58% | 54% | 61% | 62% | 58% | 54% | 67% | 50% | 78% | 45% | ||
We are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate | 32% | 36% | 28% | 24% | 31% | 40% | 24% | 43% | 17% | 44% | ||
Don’t know | 10% | 9% | 11% | 15% | 11% | 6% | 9% | 7% | 5% | 11% | ||
Base (n) | 1,084 | 539 | 545 | 341 | 358 | 385 | 334 | 431 | 118 | 106 | ||
- Acceptance that climate change is happening and is caused by human activity is high across all voters, but highest among Greens voters (78%) and Labor voters (67%), followed by Coalition voters (50%) and other voters (45%).
- Climate change denial is highest among Coalition voters (43%), those over 55 (40%) and men (36%), whom are the most likely to believe we are just witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate.

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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
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