A record share of Australians say humans cause climate change: poll

More Australians than ever believe human activity is entirely or mainly responsible for climate change, new polling shows.

A majority of Australians now think we are seeing
more frequent and severe droughts due to climate change.

But only 13 per cent say the Morrison government is doing a good job tackling climate change.

A survey by social research firm Ipsos shows 46 per cent of Australians now agree climate change is “entirely or mainly” caused by human activity. That is the highest share since Ipsos began asking the question in an annual survey of Australians’ attitudes to climate change in 2010.

Another 33 per cent say climate change is “partly caused by human activity and partly caused by natural processes” while 11 per cent said it is “entirely or mainly” caused by natural processes only.

Read the story from The Age why Matt Wade - “A record share of Australians say humans cause climate change: poll.”

Climate change is happening and Australians are concerned about the impacts

More Australians accept the reality of climate change than at almost any time since Climate of the Nation began in 2007.

Three quarters (76%, up from 71% 2017) of Australians accept that climate change is occurring, 11% do not think that climate change is occurring and 13% are unsure.

Acceptance of climate change closely follows voting intentions, but interestingly while One Nation (22%) and Nationals (15%) voters are the most likely to say they do not think that climate change is occurring, this declined significantly for both groups since 2017.

Read the report from The Australia Institute - “Climate change is happening and Australians are concerned about the impacts.”

Electric cars would save lives and cut costs, but Australians 'risk being left behind’

Deaths from air pollution would be prevented and the Morrison government would meet its pledge to make electricity more reliable and affordable if more Australians drove electric cars, but a lack of political will is holding back the benefits.

It is widely acknowledged that electric vehicles improve
 air quality, help address climate change, boost public
 health and are cheaper to run than conventional vehicles.

That is the widespread view expressed to a Senate probe into electric vehicles in Australia. Electric car maker Tesla, headed by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk, is among those who assert that "government leadership" is the main barrier to increasing electric vehicle uptake in Australia, while the government’s own infrastructure adviser warned that Australians "risk being left behind" in the global transition.

Read the story from The Age by Nicole Hasham - “Electric cars would save lives and cut costs, but Australians 'risk being left behind’.”