Kiwis have an increased sense of urgency on the climate crisis

Ōtautahi – Kiwis have an increased sense of urgency on the climate crisis and are the most concerned about the impact of climate change seen around the world

New Zealand is most worried about the impact of climate change around the world with the majority (81 percent) of New Zealanders expressed concerns about the impacts of climate change, an international survey has found.

Three quarters (76 percent) of New Zealanders are also concerned about the impacts of climate change that are already being seen in New Zealand, the Ipsos global advisor study shows.

More than 20,000 people across 31 countries were surveyed. In Aotearoa, 1003 people 18 years and over, took part in this survey.

Compared to last year, significantly more New Zealanders recognise people, businesses and government need to act now. A total of 65 percent of Kiwis said if the government does not act now to combat climate change, it will be failing the country.

Then, 70 percent said if businesses do not act now, they will be failing their employees and customers, up from 60 percent in 2021.

As a comparison globally, awareness of governments’ climate change action plan sits as 39 percent, up from 31 percent last year.

However, an increased sense of urgency has not translated into clear changes in how people plan to act. The proportion of the public, both globally and in New Zealand, planning to make pro-environmental changes over the coming year has not increased significantly since last year.

People’s understanding of what to do as individuals to reduce contribution to carbon emissions also remains low.

Recycling and growing/producing food are incorrectly identified by New Zealanders as the top two most impactful carbon-reducing actions. Living car-free or changing to a vegan diet, which have a far higher impact, are not seen by most as being particularly impactful.

Interestingly, New Zealanders are great recyclers with 95 percent indicating that they are already recycling or are likely to start recycling in the next 12 months.

But they are particularly reluctant to eat less meat. At least 42 percent say they are unlikely to reduce their meat consumption and dairy products, with 49 percent are unlikely to reduce dairy consumption).

Other key findings include:

• Over two thirds of people globally are concerned about the impacts of climate change, both in their own countries (68 percent global market average) and around the world (70 percent global market average)

• Nearly a third (31 percent) of New Zealanders don’t think that the country will make significant progress against climate change this decade (36 percent global market average, 37 percent Australia)

• Nearly half (48 percent) of New Zealanders don’t believe that other countries around the world will make significant progress against climate change this decade (34 percent global market average, 34 percent Australia)

• New Zealanders strongly believe that everyone – government, businesses, and individuals – have a shared responsibility to reduce their carbon emissions