Guest essay by Eric Worrall
According to The Guardian, most people surveyed already believe they are doing more than their fair share to save the planet from climate change.
Few willing to change lifestyle to save the planet, climate survey finds
Exclusive: poll of 10 countries including US, UK, France and Germany finds people prioritising measures that are already habits
Jon Henley @jonhenley
Mon 8 Nov 2021 03.28 AEDTCitizens are alarmed by the climate crisis, but most believe they are already doing more to preserve the planet than anyone else, including their government, and few are willing to make significant lifestyle changes, an international survey has found.
“The widespread awareness of the importance of the climate crisis illustrated in this study has yet to be coupled with a proportionate willingness to act,” the survey of 10 countries including the US, UK, France and Germany, observed.
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The survey found that 62% of people surveyed saw the climate crisis as the main environmental challenge the world was now facing, ahead of air pollution (39%), the impact of waste (38%) and new diseases (36%).
But when asked to rate their individual action against others’ such as governments, business and the media, people generally saw themselves as much more committed to the environment than others in their local community, or any institution.
Only 51% said they would definitely take individual climate action, with 14% saying they would definitely not and 35% torn. People in Poland and Singapore (56%) were the most willing to act, and in Germany (44%) and the Netherlands (37%) the least.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/07/few-willing-to-change-lifestyle-climate-survey
The quasi-religious green demands for ritual recycling, and other belief building exercises, appear to some extent to have backfired. People who conscientiously sort their trash into the correct bins, and use less plastic, or whatever, already feel they are doing their bit to save the world from climate change. I never got a straight answer from politicians about what happens to recycled trash, I strongly suspect much of it ends up in landfill, or dumped in the sea.
Concern about the cost of climate action was a major factor, 69% said they needed more public resources, while 60% said they can’t afford to make the effort required. There is also a strong perception of disagreement amongst experts, so the public is clearly skeptical about claims there is a near 100% scientific consensus.
The cost concern is intriguing from a number of perspectives. Greens have clearly failed to sell the idea that renewables are cheaper than fossil fuel. Another possible interpretation, and this is only speculation, is people might be nervous about giving straight answers, preferring to conceal their skepticism behind financial concerns. Yet people still vote for green leaning politicians in large numbers, so there must be some level of concern amongst ordinary people.
33% of respondents agreed they “don’t have the headspace to think about it”, so a significant minority of people appear to be fed up with wall to wall climate message.
I think it will take more than a Guardian survey to tease out what is really happening, but my key takeaway is ordinary people are reluctant to embrace more radical climate action.
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I know liberals who live jet setting life styles, but who think they are living green, hilarious, they are so in denial. Liberals…I used to think I was one of them, when I was young and naive, but know much better now.
That sounds like a what a tall person would say when told they must buy a sub-sub-compact car. 😉
I run into this all the time with people who are afraid that the climate will be ruined. They won’t give up their car, sell their washing machine and disconnect from the grid. Greta is the big one since her voice is so loud. Let them use an outhouse, fetch water from a nearby creek, and walk to the bus stop for a while and they will change their tune. By the way this always wins the argument.
Please, take note and do not disregard those 72% !!!
72% ! It is a great proportion!
72% of those inquired by the G. “don’t think there is an agreement among experts on the best solutions to preserve the planet”!
Just disregard the easy superficial (suggested by the paper) admission that there is a “problem” to which “solutions” are being searched; and the suggestion that the planet must be “preserved” (from what?). Both are suggestions induced by the paper in the formulation of the questions.
And then, think that there must be a large correspondence between a lot of those 72% and another lot of the 76% that generously would sacrifice for the good of all. We are forced to conclude that (1) most respondents to the silly survey are generous people BUT (2) that they think there is not enough knowledge to take action.
This is just the opposite that the G. wants us to see in the results of the silly survey.
The response pattern seems similar to another question one could ask.
“How do we determine the ‘fair’ percentage of income tax people should pay?”
A. A flat 20% tax on all income above a standard deduction.
B. A progressive system similar to the current US tax code.
C. A progressive system, but eliminate the loopholes Congress carved out for themselves and their benefactors.
D. 50% of all income, no exceptions.
E. 0% of all income up to the amount I make, 100% of everything over that.
A lot of people are happily noisy until it starts to affect them. They would never admit their choice of E.
Once more, the public are smarter than the pundits. The emperor may be able to coerce the dependents into marvelling at his brilliant attire, and the commercial media are willing to say anything that sells advertising, but the taxpayers only see a hairy butt and questionable intellect.
Blatant globalist hoax to push a one world agenda. Eff em.
Citizens are alarmed by the climate crisis, but most believe they are already doing more to preserve the planet than anyone else, including their government,
That’s because they know BIG GREEN is on the job with their taxes-
Electric vehicle factory plan collapses and with it the promise of 500 Victorian jobs (msn.com)
With Toyota Ford and GM finally pulling out of car manufacturing in Oz because taxpayer subsidy couldn’t possibly keep them going with small runs and our costs you knew full well local EV manufacturing was utter fantasy.
“The government has refused to say how much money had been paid to the company or whether any had been repaid, saying the matter was commercial in confidence.”
Basically thanks for the taxpayer largesse Dan and happy to help out with the media show and don’t hesitate to call on us again in your hour of need.
Im doing my part by farting less, gives me cramps but if it will save at least one polar bear…