Majority of Britons think government is failing to tackle climate crisis, new poll shows
With Cop27 starting on Sunday Britons have shown they are not happy with the lack of progress on climate action taken
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Nearly 60 per cent of Brits think the Government is not doing enough to tackle climate change, a new survey shows.
YouGov polled more than 3,300 people and found the majority believe the environment and climate change is prioritised the least behind the cost-of-living crisis, economy and health.
The Government set itself legal targets to be carbon neutral by 2050, cutting the UK’s net contribution to global warming to zero.
Despite the ambitions though, the Conservative Party has offered 100 new licences for North Sea oil and gas drilling, even though experts have warned there should be no new fossil fuel exploration if the world is to avoid global temperature rises.
The survey was conducted for the aid agency Cafod, ahead of international climate summit, Cop27.
Head of public policy at Cafod, Graham Gordon said: “The reality of the climate crisis is already here. In the UK, our summer saw 40C heat and even now in winter, we’ve had temperatures hit 20C.
“There is a devastating drought in East Africa leaving millions on the brink of famine and deadly floods in Pakistan which have wrecked communities and taken many lives.
“It has become painfully clear the Government’s knee-jerk reaction to pursue more fossil fuels will not only cause more devastation, but it’s against the public wishes too.”
The poll also showed 58 per cent of Brits thought the Government had done too little to tackle climate change over the past year, in comparison to the eight per cent who believed ministers had done too much.
Out of those who voted Conservative in the previous 2019 election, 40 per cent thought the Government had done too little in the past year to tackle climate change while 14 per cent thought they had done too much.
Questioned on the Government’s target of achieving net zero by 2050 and reducing fossil fuel use, 47 per cent of people believed they were not committed to that goal.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments