By Asitha Jayawardena

54% did not trust the UK Government to come up with the right decisions on tackling climate change in a survey conducted by YouGov for Sky. Only 31% trusted the UK Government with climate change and 15% came with an answer ‘don’t know’.

The fieldwork was carried out on 30 and 31 March 2021.

1705 adults in the Great Britain (829 males, 876 females) were surveyed across the country and the distribution of age was as follows: 18-24 years is 186, 25-49 years is 711, 50-64 years is 411 and over 65 is 397.

In terms of the 2019 General Election, 578 were Conservatives, 426 were Labour and 150 were Liberal Democrats. In 2016 those who voted in the EU referendum, 633 were Remain and 675 Leave.

The government and the opposition

When asked who you would trust more to make the right decisions on tackling climate change, 26% said a Conservative government under Boris Johnson, 24% said a Labour government under Keir Starmer and 31% said neither.

In the question of the cabinet minister who was responsible for the issue of climate change, Alok Sharma came with 3%. He was appointed full-time President for COP26 (the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference) on 8 January 2021.

The others are George Eustice 3%, Michael Gove 2% and Kwasi Kwarteng 2%. 84% selected the answer ‘don’t know’ as the advice was not to guess if you didn’t know.

The impact of climate change

Climate change has different extents of impact: personally, the United Kingdom as a whole and the other countries around the world.

On a personal level, 21% said that the impact of climate change was ‘total or significant extent’ while 69% said that the impact was ‘not very much or not at all.’

In the United Kingdom as a whole, 50% said that the effect on climate change was ‘total or significant extent’ while 37% said that the effect was ‘not very much or not at all.’

In the other countries around the world, 69% said that the impact on climate change was ‘total or significant extent’ while 17% said the impact was ‘not very much or not at all.’

The responsibility and the solution

Who do you think is MOST responsible for climate change happening? When this question was asked, 42% said that it was business and industry. Other rejoinders were 11% ordinary people, 23% the Governments of wealthy developed countries and 7% the Governments of less wealthy, developing countries.

And who do you think has the BIGGEST role to play in stopping climate change? When this question was asked, 37% said it was the Governments of wealthy developed countries that have the solution to climate change. Other responses were 15% ordinary people, 27% business and industry and 6% the Governments of less wealthy, developing countries.

Reducing carbon emissions

To reduce Britain’s carbon emissions, which ONE you would do.

29% said that they would never drive a petrol/diesel car again. 20% said that they would see the price of travelling overseas substantially increase. 13% said that would see the price of meat and animal products substantially increase. But only 2% said that they would see the price of domestic heating substantially increase.

23% said that would not be willing to do any of these while 13% said they didn’t know.

Your view on climate change

What is your view when thinking about climate change?

68% said that the world can solve the issue of climate change and limit its impact if we make the right decisions. 10% said that the world can’t solve the issue of climate change, and we should instead just try to live with it continuously. 9% said neither while 13% said didn’t know.

Overview of the survey

Summing up, more than half (54%) said that they did not trust the UK government when it comes to climate change.

The addition of percentages for Boris Johnson (26%) and Keith Starmer (24%) is at 50% so it seems that a third force is above the two in the House of Commons.

The percentage scored by Alok Sharma (3%) is absolutely small because just over 6 months are left for the COP26, in November 2021.

On the impact of climate change, 50% is a good percentage of the UK as a whole but 21% on a personal level as a Briton is low.

Finally, the percentage of 68% is good in solving the issue of climate change and limit the impact with the right decisions. It gives us hope.

More…

Climate change: Revealed – how many Britons are unwilling to change their habits to tackle the crisis https://news.sky.com/story/one-in-four-britons-is-unwilling-to-change-key-habits-that-would-help-tackle-climate-crisis-poll-12267928

YouGov / Sky Survey Results https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/gkct8b2i0l/Sky_ClimateChange_210331.pdf