New Zealanders strongly believe climate change is real, want faster action

A new national survey of New Zealanders' attitudes to climate change deals a major blow to those who argue it is not happening.

Some 64% say the time has passed to doubt whether or not climate change is happening as a result of human activities.

They believe climate change is a problem (76%) and its effects have already begun to happen (65%).

A majority (53%) say they personally worry about climate change, according to a ShapeNZ national survey of 2,851 people commissioned by the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development.

The Business Council will put the new survey's results before the Parliamentary Select Committee Reviewing the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the country's policy approach to climate change. Results of the survey, taken between February 9 and 11, 2009, are weighted by age, gender, employment, ethnicity, personal income and party vote 2008 to provide a nationally representative population sample. The maximum margin of error is + or - 1.8% on the national sample.

The survey finds nearly six out of 10 rank climate change as a problem which may have a serious impact on them and their families (the eighth highest ranking issue concerning New Zealanders). It is seen as a more serious issue than interest rates and personal employment prospects, but less important than the cost of living, crime and the economic recession. It shows the recession has not reduced concern over climate change.

Some 44% believe it will be a threat to their personal lifestyle within their own lifetime.

Pace of response and Government management:
People want the country and Government to respond faster on the issue: 42% would prefer the country to provide global leadership on the issue compared with 36% who want to move at the same pace as other countries.

People are more likely to rate the current Government's management of climate change as poor rather than excellent (20% rate it 2- where 1 equals poor and 5 excellent, and 14% 4+). When this question was last asked in May, 2008, the then Government scored 43% 2- and 11% 4+. This was before passage of the ETS legislation in September 2008. The 574 business people covered in the survey (maximum margin of error +/- 4.1%), are more likely to rate performance as poor (26% 2- ) than positive (13% 4+).

Climate change: opportunity or threat?

The country is evenly split on whether there are more or fewer economic opportunities available as a result of climate change (27% more opportunities,
20% fewer opportunities, 27% no difference, 25% don't know).

However, there is no doubt among business decision makers that climate change presents more economic opportunities (42% more, 16% fewer, 26% no difference, 16% don't know).

There is also strong public and cross-party voter support (63%) for a Government information programme to advise businesses and households about climate change policies and ways to help manage it.

Business Council Chief Executive Peter Neilson says the survey sends policy makers the strong message: people believe climate change is for real, its effects are already being felt - and the country needs to get with dealing with it.

"There's a group of about 10% who think climate change isn't a problem. They and others have successfully delayed any significant response to deal with the issue for the past 15 years. Meantime, the clock's ticking and the longer we delay the more it will cost to cut emissions. Business people want to get on with taking advantage of new economic opportunities presented by managing climate change properly. They include pricing carbon - so new money pours into clean technologies and new ideas, creating new long-term jobs in the coming low-carbon economy.

"Kiwis are very keen on doing their bit, showing the way, and protecting their trading opportunities and quality of life," Mr Neilson says. "They're saying let's at last get past vested interests, accept the science and agree on a policy which effectively gets emissions down while allowing us to grow the economy and jobs.

The select committee review is a good chance to "get it right - and get on with it".

ENDS

The Business Council believes sustainable businesses are profitable, contribute to social progress and ecological balance - and protect New Zealand's quality of life. The Business Council's 73 members jointly employ more than 88,000 people in managing resources, manufacturing, retailing and the service sector. Members contribute annual sales of $59 billion to the economy, equivalent to 43% of GDP. The Business Council runs a national online survey panel, ShapeNZ, to allow public input on major issues. The panel has more than 14,000 members, is built from purchased lists and is representative of the population as a whole, compared with the 2006 census. ShapeNZ members register and provide demographic and previous party vote information to ensure results can be accurately weighted to reflect the New Zealand population. A report is available here on ShapeNZ methodology. Registration is also available at www.shapenz.org.nz.

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