Responding to poll data released by MORI on the British public's attitude to climate change, Greenpeace climate change campaign manager Charlie Kronick said:
"It's hardly surprising that that the decade-long campaign by oil companies and the groups they fund to muddy the waters has had some effect. The truth is, the science is settled, but disproportionate airtime is given to sceptics with little credibility and no peer reviewed evidence. What's really remarkable about this poll is the fact that 90 per cent of people agree that climate change will have a significant impact on future generations, and 70 per cent demand that the Government take the lead in tackling it.
It's crystal clear that the public are genuinely concerned about this issue, but it's easy to cherry pick statistics to spin a line for a news story. What's much harder is persuading our Government that they need to act now to reduce our CO2 emissions across the board by investing in the real solutions to climate change - energy efficiency, renewables and decentralised energy."
For more information, contact the Greenpeace press office on 0207 965 8255.
Some of the main findings included:
- Although 45 per cent of those questioned placed global warming at the top of a list of the most serious threats to mankind, when placed in a national context it came behind race and immigration, the NHS and crime.
- Locally people were more concerned about traffic, litter, graffiti, parks, noise and dogs fouling the pavement.
- While more than two thirds - 68 percent - believe we are seeing climate change only 38 per cent thought it would have an impact while more than half - 51 per cent - thought it would have little or no effect.
- But 90 per cent agree it would have a significant impact on future generations.
- Just nine per cent thought global warming was caused by natural events while a total of 41 per cent thought it was caused partly caused by both natural and human activity. These figures have not changed since a previous survey in 2002.
- Opinion was divided on whether climate change was too complex and uncertain for scientists to make useful forecasts. 40 per cent agreed and 38 per cent disagreed.
- More than half - 56 per cent - thought experts were still divided over whether human activity is contributing to global warming while 21 per cent disagreed.
- Asked if climate change was exaggerated and 'caused too much fuss' 75 per cent disagreed and 22 per cent agreed.
- Almost 46 per cent thought a solution could be found to the problems caused by climate change while 32 per cent disagreed.
- 70 per cent agreed that the Government should take the lead in combating climate change even if it means using the law to change people's behaviour and consumers are looking to business to take greater action on climate change.
- 37 per cent admitted they were doing nothing about climate change while 23 per cent said there main effort was through recycling.
