The Vast Majority of Australians Want Action on Climate Change. They’ve Said So At Least 45 Times.

There are still many uncertainties remaining in climate science. When will we reach the first irreversible tipping point? Is there really any chance of staying below 1.5 oC of warming? How quickly will humans curb their addiction for burning fossil fuels?

Fossil fuel addiction

Of course, some things are certain. Or at least, they are backed up by such an overwhelming amount of evidence that we may as well say that they are certain. We know that the planet has warmed by more than 1 oC already. We know that it will warm by more than 1.5 oC unless we take drastic action. And we know that this warming is primarily driven by human activities.

One other certainty, that is seldom spoken about, is that the vast majority of Australians accept that climate change is occurring. They also accept that it is caused by humans, and they support action to address it. It’s easy to get the impression that we are a nation of climate science deniers, but studies have shown over and over and over again that it’s simply not true.

Climate change protest

To illustrate this I’ve compiled all the studies I can find. There are 45 different studies by 11 different organisations over 16 years. Each of these gleaned information from a nationally representative sample of Australians (with a sample of size of usually more than 1000). For each, I’ve included a link to the details, as well as a key statistic …

• 1. Lowy Institute 2021: 74% said the benefits of taking further action on climate change will outweigh the costs.
• 2. Australia Institue 2021: 81% said climate change is occurring
• 3. Essential 2021: 67% said climate change is a very important issue.
• 4. Australian Conservation Foundation 2021: 77% said climate change is important to their vote in the next federal election.
• 5. Lowy Institute 2020: 56% said global warming is a serious and pressing problem.
• 6. Australia Institue 2020: 79% said climate change is occurring.
• 7. Essential 2020: 71% said they support a net zero emissions 2050 target.
• 8. Lowy Institute 2019: 61% said global warming is a serious and pressing problem.
• 9. Essential 2019: 62% said climate change is caused by human activity.
• 10. Australia Institue 2019: 77% said climate change is occurring

The proportion of those that are truly resistant to climate action has never reached above 19% in 15 years (Lowy Institute)

• 11. Lowy Institute 2018: 84% said the government should focus on renewables, even if we need to invest more in infrastructure to make the system more reliable.
• 12. Australia Institue 2018: 76% said climate change is occurring
• 13. Essential 2018: 63% said climate change is caused by human activity.
• 14. Lowy Institute 2017: 54% said we should take steps against global warming now even if it involves significant costs.
• 15. Australia Institue 2017: 71% said climate change is occurring.
• 16. Essential 2017: 64% said climate change is caused by human activity.
• 17. Lowy Institute 2016: 53% said global warming is a serious and pressing problem.
• 18. Australia Institue 2016: 77% said climate change is occurring.
• 19. Essential 2016: 57% said climate change is caused by human activity.
• 20. Australia Institue 2015: 70% said climate change is occurring

The proportion of true “deniers” has never reached above 16% in 9 years (Australia Institute)

• 21. Lowy Institute 2014: 63% said Australia should take a leadership role on reducing emissions.
• 22. Australia Institue 2014: 70% said climate change is occurring
• 23.CSIRO 2013: 85% said that climate change is happening.
• 24.Lowy Institute 2013: 84% said that global warming should be addressed.
• 25. Australia Institue 2013: 66% said climate change is occurring
• 26. CSIRO 2012: 85% said that climate change is happening.
• 27. Lowy Institute 2012: 81% said that global warming should be addressed.
• 28. Australia Institue 2012: 64% said climate change is occurring.
• 29. Griffith 2012: 74% said the climate is changing.
• 30. CSIRO 2011: 87% said that climate change is happening.

An easy majority in every state supports strong 2030 emissions targets (Australian Conservation Foundation 2021)

• 31. Lowy Institute 2011: 81% said that global warming should be addressed.
• 32. Lowy Institute 2010: 86% said that global warming should be addressed.
• 33. CSIRO 2010: 83% said that climate change is happening.
• 34. ARCCANSI 2010: 78% said that climate change is happening.
• 35. IPSOS 2010: 77% said that climate change is human-induced.
• 36. Newspoll 2010: 73% said that climate change is happening.
• 37. CSIRO Science into Society Survey 2010: 63% said that climate change is happening.
• 38. Essential Media 2009: 53% said that climate change is human-induced.
• 39. Lowy Institute 2009: 87% said that global warming should be addressed.
• 40. Thermometer 2009:73% said that climate change is human-induced.

An easy majority of Australians think climate change is a very important issue, regardless of who they vote for (Essential 2021)

• 41. Lowy Institute 2008: 60% said that global warming is a serious and pressing problem.
• 42. Newspoll 2008: 84% said that climate change is happening.
• 43. Thermometer 2008: 73% said that climate change is human-induced.
• 44. Australian Gallup Poll 2008: 52% said that climate change is human-induced.
• 45. Lowy Institute 2006: 68% said that global warming is a serious and pressing problem.

Hey, you might be interested in some older stuff I posted that’s kind of on this topic. Try it out here, here and here.