A new survey has found almost two thirds of Australians believe the country is facing a climate emergency and governments should mobilise all of society to tackle the issue as it did during major wars.
Significantly, the research from The Australia Institute was conducted in November before some of the worst bushfires raged across the country ahead of Christmas and on New Year’s Eve.
Australia’s bushfire season began early this year and there have been major blazes since October.
The fires have claimed, 26 lives, burned more than 10 million hectares of land and obscured and paralysed Australian cities for days with dense smoke haze.
“This polling was conducted in November before the worst aspects of the current bushfire disaster had hit, but the results are still very clear,” the Australia Institute deputy director Ebony Bennett said.
“It will be interesting to see if the current crisis shifts opinions.”
The survey of 1424 people found
– Two in three Australians (66 per cent) agreed that Australia was facing a climate change emergency and should take emergency action. Only one in four Australians (23 per cent) disagreed.
– Two in three Australians (63 per cent) agreed that governments should mobilise all of society to tackle climate change, like they did during the World Wars.
– A majority of Liberal-Nation (56 per cent), Labor (74 per cent) and Australian Greens voters (80 per cent) agreed that governments should mobilise all of society to tackle climate change.
“Australians understand how serious the climate crisis is and they want their government to respond accordingly,” Ms Bennett said.
“Across all major states and voting intentions, people are worried and want action.
“This is an Australia-wide phenomenon and can no longer be fobbed off by the conservative Liberal-National government as an ‘inner-city’ or ‘Canberra-bubble’ concern.”
Even among Liberal-National voters, 54 per cent thought Australia should take emergency action.
Support was strongest among Australian Greens Party voters (86 per cent) then Labor (79 per cent) and independent/other (56 per cent).
One Nation voters were the least supportive, with only 42 per cent wanting action, although this still exceeded the 38 per cent who disagreed.
Among the states, more than 60 per cent of those living in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia agreed.
“Our research has shown that, overwhelmingly, Australians think our country is facing a climate emergency and that less than one quarter of Australians disagree,” Ms Bennett said.
“Since the beginning of this fire season, the images of devastation spreading across the country have been distressing for many and most want to see all of society mobilised in response.
“The government should start by introducing a levy on fossil fuel producers to create a National Climate Disaster Fund.
“Such a policy is supported by 62 per cent of Australians and would help to shift the financial burden of these fires from Australian households, businesses and taxpayers.”
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WE’RE BUILDING A PLATFORM WITH A CLEAR FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL GOOD. CONTRIBUTE AND TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT.
