Britain admits it is not green enough, reveals poll

Britain has become a nation of guilty greens – people who admit they do not do enough to fight climate change – according to a Guardian/ICM poll published today. While almost everyone claims to have made some effort to live environmentally-friendly lives, almost two-thirds also say they could do more.

The poll was carried out ahead of yesterday's launch of the 10:10 climate campaign, backed by organisations including the Guardian. It finds widespread agreement that climate change exists – 85 per cent say it is already a threat or will be in the future.

It also shows strong public support for individual action to reduce carbon emissions: 85 per cent, for instance, say that people should fit low energy lightbulbs and 86 per cent agree that people should turn down their heating.

But a majority also agree that they have not done enough so far. Only 32 per cent believe they already do enough to fight climate change, while 61 per cent say that although they do some green things they could do more.

Only seven per cent claim to make no effort to help the environment. In total 95 per cent say they are making at least some effort to be green.

They are the target of the 10:10 campaign, which is urging people and businesses to make individual efforts to cut carbon emissions by 10 per cent during 2010, regardless of government action or the outcome of the Copehagen summit in December.

10:10 was launched yesterday at Tate Modern in London, which saw hundreds of people sign up to a pledge to cut personal emissions by taking a series of steps such as cutting down on flights or eating locally-sourced food.

The poll suggests that warnings about climate change are now firmly imprinted on the public mind: only 11 per cent say that climate change is not a threat, while 37 per cent say it has already become one and a further 48 per cent say it will threaten future generations unless action is taken.

Most people also accept that climate change is caused by human activity, despite publicised suggestions that other natural factors might be responsible. While 71 per cent say climate change is mainly man-made, only 23 per cent point to other causes.

However these results have barely changed since the Guardian and ICM last asked such questions in 2005.

Campaigners may take comfort from the fact that the economic crisis has not stopped people taking environmental issues seriously, as happened during the recession in the early 1990s. But four years of campaigning seems to have had little effect on public awareness. In 2005, 40 per cent thought climate change was a current threat and 49 per cent feared it would become one – both figures marginally higher that today.

Many people also question whether individual behaviour will make any difference. A small majority, 52 per cent, say climate change will take place regardless of the way individuals behave. Slightly fewer, 46 per cent, think that they can make a difference by acting differently.

That finding shows the scale of the challenge facing campaigns such as 10:10. Even though an overwhelming majority say climate change is or will be a threat, most do not think changing their own behaviour is the answer.

As in 2005, people are also keener on small fixes such as changing lightbulbs than on things that would push up prices or force people to live differently.

But there have been shifts in attitudes on some issues, such as nuclear power, flying and locally-sourced food.

In 2005, as today, 83 per cent of people agreed people should consider buying more fuel-efficient cars. More people now think people should drive less, 75 per cent (67 per cent in 2005). More also think people should cut down on flying, 69 per cent, (56 per cent in 2005) and more think people should buy less food from outside Europe, 75 per cent (63 per cent in 2005).

There continues to be stronger resistance to measures that could push up taxes. Only 33 per cent back a pay-per-mile scheme for roads (26 per cent in 2005).

Even fewer, 29 per cent, say they are prepared to pay more for gas and electricity to cut waste.

However the expansion of the renewable industry is less controversial than opponents believe. Public backing for windfarms has grown since 2005, with 79 per cent saying they would not object to one being built within 20 miles of their home (up from 69 per cent in 2005).

A remarkable 67 per cent say they would even support a windfarm in sight of their house, although that theoretical backing may not be born out in practice.

Nuclear power, which has won government support since 2005, is also now less unpopular than before, with 32 per cent saying they would not object to a nuclear power station being built within 20 miles of their home (19 per cent in 2005).

This article first appeared on the Guardian

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