British climate change
While National tries to decide whether or not it believes climate change actually exists, it should perhaps bear in mind that there aren’t many votes in climate change denial.
If Kiwis’ views on climate change are anything like those of our British brethren, then the popular consensus that climate change is a real, pressing problem facing humanity is just as overwhelming as the scientific consensus. The Guardian recently conducted a survey about climate change of about a thousand Britons and found the following:
- 89% believed either that climate change is a threat to the world or will be for future generations if something isn’t done about it soon; 8% believed climate change is not a threat.
- 86% said national governments should take on responsibility of limiting climate change; 73% said individual consumers should; 70% said business should; 63% said local councils should; and 3% said none of the above should.
- 26% said the threat of climate change has influenced what they do and buy a lot; 51% said it had influenced them a little; and 20% said it had influenced them not at all.
- 35% agreed there should be a tax on airline flights to deter people from flying; 61% said there shouldn’t.
- 69% said they would support a wind farm being built within 20 miles of their home; 25% said they wouldn’t.
- Respondents were also asked which of the following climate-change combating measures people like them should consider undertaking: buy a smaller, more fuel-efficient car (83% said yes); fit a solar panel to your house to generate energy (78%); travel more on public transport (74%); drive less (67%); fly less (56%); and pay a charge per mile to drive (26%).
All of which reinforces for me the belief that most people agree with our key environmental messages, around climate change, recycling, public transport, resource depletion, and the like. The idea that we only have so many natural resources, and that we have to live within our ecological means, is not a difficult one to understand, and is one that many Kiwis empathise with. The key for the Greens is to get voters to make the link between these issues and a strong Green presence in Parliament.
June 25th, 2005 at 11:04 pm
Contending with apathy is so hard! People tick ‘yes’ boxes easily enough but might be slightly less likely to actually do it.
One good way I think is issuing a ‘Top 5 easy ways to help’ with for example, 1. Hot water - boil the jug to boil pots, don’t hot wash clothes, wrap the hot water cylinder; 2. switch off appliances at the wall when not in use, particularly microwaves, stereos, TVs and computers; 3. Ensure the fridge seals are perfect, and don’t leave the door open! 4. Buy efficient heaters, don’t use it when you could put a jersey on instead. 5. Go to community events eg the rugby, invite friends over for the evening… using slightly more power in one place is more efficient than using some power in 4 houses, or even 20,000!
Then for the more ambitious, insulate the house, buy thermal curtains, go solar, buy a newer more efficient fridge, use the car less, buy an electric car (though with fossil fuel energy this isn’t such a vast improvement), buy local foods and products; suggest to businesses etc that they turn the airconditioning or heating down, use efficient lighting and so on. It can make a big difference.
If we get people to make small changes, make it easy for them, then suggest other bigger things…. it won’t be such a change and won’t be resisted as too hard. mwahaha manipulative greenie brainwashing
It really is cheaper overall though, and miles better for us and the environment
June 26th, 2005 at 12:54 am
fwog and zoie peoples not pathetic you know last time they vote for that nice man peter to keep you away from the corn .. this time for the centre right .. they people get more cunning by the day .. we do sympathise heros but we just gotta take a few risks here anyway all the poor people live too long if they walk everywhere .. and they get cold and clutter yo hoispice and with a reactor we could warm everyone up