Q. The Intergenerational Report did not address the impact of climate change. Do you think addressing climate change should or should not be a priority for governments when it comes to intergenerational issues?

46% think that climate change should be a priority for governments when it comes to intergenerational issues and 33% think it should not be a priority.

Those most likely to think it should be a priority were Labor voters (61%), Greens voters (87%), aged 18-34 (54%) and university educated (54%).

Those most likely to think it should not be a priority were Liberal/National voters (53%) and aged 55+ (46%).

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?

57% (up 1% since June) agree that climate change is happening and is caused by human activity and 29% (down 1%) believe that we may just be witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate. This is the highest level of belief in climate change recorded in Essential polls – and the lowest level of disbelief.

By age groups, those aged under 35 split 67%/20% and those aged 55+ split 41%/48%. People with higher education were more likely to think climate change is happening and is caused by human activity – those with university degrees split 68%/22%.

Q. Over the last 2 years, have you become more concerned or less concerned about the environmental effects of global warming or do you feel about the same as you did 2 years ago?

51% say they have become more concerned about the environmental effects of global warming over the last two years and 9% have become less concerned – 35% feel about the same.

These results are very similar to those when this question was asked in September.

Those most likely to have become more concerned were Labor voters (62%), Greens voters (78%) and people with university degrees (62%).

Q. As far as you know, do you think the following countries are doing enough, not enough or too much to address climate change? 

51% of respondents think Australia is not doing enough to address climate change – while 53% think the USA is not doing enough and 63% think China is not doing enough. Only 26% think that Australia is doing enough.

Those most likely to think Australia is not doing enough were aged 18-34 (57%), Greens voters (91%), Labor voters (65%) and people with university education (59%).

Q. Do you think Australia is taking the right or the wrong approach to handling the issue of climate change?

28% think that Australia is taking the right approach to handling the issue of climate change and 42% think Australia is taking the wrong approach – 30% don’t know.

Those most likely to think Australia is taking the wrong approach were Labor voters (64%), Greens voters (91%), aged under 35 (48%) and university educated (46%).

Q. Do you think that, over the next few years, Australia will be more or less likely to experience severe bushfires and extreme weather events like floods and cyclones?

63% think that sever bushfires and extreme weather events will be more likely over the next few years.

86% of Greens voters and 63% of Labor voters think they will be more likely. However, 47% of Liberal/National voters think they will be neither more likely nor less likely.

68% of women think they will be more likely compared to 56% of men.

Q. And do you think that these extreme events – bushfires, floods, cyclones, etc – are likely or unlikely to be linked to climate change?

(Based on the 63% – 625 respondents – who think extreme event are more likely.)

Of those who think extreme events are more likely, 76% think they are likely to be linked to climate change and 16% think they are unlikely to be linked to climate change.

83% of Labor voters and 96% of Greens voters think they are likely to be linked to climate change.

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?

56% (up 3% since June) agree that climate change is happening and is caused by human activity and 30% (down 5%) believe that we may just be witnessing a normal fluctuation in the earth’s climate. This is the equal highest recorded belief in climate change – and the lowest level of disbelief.

By age groups, those aged under 35 split 70%/16% and those aged 55+ split 50%/41%. People with higher education were more likely to think climate change is happening and is caused by human activity – those with university degrees split 69%/20%.