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New Zealanders open to doing more to tackle climate change
27 March 2019
New Zealanders open
to doing more to tackle climate
change
The vast majority of
New Zealanders are open to doing more about climate change
– as individuals and as a nation – according to new
research commissioned by the Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Authority (EECA).
More than 80% of New Zealanders, including businesses, believe that climate change is happening. 88% of people want companies to do more, and 76% want the government to do more. Most people (79%) acknowledge they themselves could be doing more to act on climate change.
EECA commissioned the research from market insights agency TRA to understand how New Zealand businesses and individuals think about energy use and climate change.
“It’s heartening to see so many New Zealanders are already very much on board with the need to reduce our climate change emissions,” said EECA Chief Executive Andrew Caseley.
“Energy use makes up 40% of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and modern technologies such as LED lighting, heat pumps, and electric vehicles can make a big impact on our emissions.
‘Energy use is an area where New Zealanders can, right now, choose options that will reduce our carbon emissions, and they are smart investments that save people money over time, and can improve quality of life.’
While many New Zealanders are willing or open to taking action, barriers to greater action exist.
30% of New Zealanders believe reducing their environmental impact would impact their quality of life, while in business, 62% think taking action would increase their costs.
“There is a role for government and the private sector to alert New Zealanders to further ways they can join the fight against climate change, and to make it easier for them to do so,” said Mr Caseley.
‘If New Zealanders want to find out how they can reduce their energy-related emissions, then visit www.energywise.govt.nz or eecabusiness.govt.nz.’
EECA commissioned the research to better understand the information needs of New Zealanders with regard to their energy use and climate change.
EECA is using the research to develop and deliver targeted and relevant information campaigns and programmes to address carbon emissions from energy, Mr Caseley said.
Research results: New Zealanders’ attitudes
to climate change and energy
General public /
consumers
‘Climate change is real’
| Strongly agree | 40% |
| Agree | 43% |
| Neutral | 11% |
| Disagree | 4% |
| Strongly disagree | 3% |
Base: Total sample n=999
‘Climate change will impact my lifestyle’
| Strongly agree | 11% |
| Agree | 47% |
| Neutral | 28% |
| Disagree | 11% |
| Strongly disagree | 3% |
Base: Total sample n=999
How would you describe your actions on climate change?
| Not really doing anything and don’t really want to do anything | 7% |
| Not really doing anything, but I’d like to start | 7% |
| Doing a bit but could be doing more | 52% |
| Doing a bit and couldn’t do any more | 11% |
| Doing a lot but could be doing more | 20% |
| Doing a lot and couldn’t do any more | 4% |
Base: Total sample n=999
‘Other people need to do more to reduce their impact on the environment’
| Strongly agree | 20% |
| Agree | 56% |
| Neutral | 21% |
| Disagree | 2% |
| Strongly disagree | 1% |
Base: Total sample n=999
‘Companies need to do more to reduce their impact on the environment’
| Strongly agree | 38% |
| Agree | 50% |
| Neutral | 10% |
| Disagree | 1% |
| Strongly disagree | 1% |
Base: Total sample n=999
‘It’s hard to reduce my environmental impact without reducing my quality of life’
| Strongly agree | 4% |
| Agree | 26% |
| Neutral | 31% |
| Disagree | 34% |
| Strongly disagree | 4% |
Base: Total sample n=999
‘The government needs to do more to help reduce New Zealand’s impact on the environment’
| Strongly agree | 25% |
| Agree | 51% |
| Neutral | 18% |
| Disagree | 4% |
| Strongly disagree | 2% |
Base: Total sample n=999
Business
‘Climate change
is real’
| Strongly agree | 35% |
| Agree | 45% |
| Neutral | 12% |
| Disagree | 4% |
| Strongly disagree | 4% |
Base: Total sample n=415
‘Climate change will impact my lifestyle’
| Strongly agree | 13% |
| Agree | 51% |
| Neutral | 22% |
| Disagree | 11% |
| Strongly disagree | 3% |
Base: Total sample n=415
‘Businesses can make a difference to the environment’
| Strongly agree | 25% |
| Agree | 62% |
| Neutral | 10% |
| Disagree | 1% |
| Strongly disagree | 2% |
Base: Total sample n=415
‘Businesses have a moral duty to others to improve the environment’
| Strongly agree | 12% |
| Agree | 62% |
| Neutral | 20% |
| Disagree | 5% |
| Strongly disagree | 1% |
Base: Total sample n=415
‘It’s hard to reduce our environmental impact without increasing costs’
| Strongly agree | 11% |
| Agree | 51% |
| Neutral | 21% |
| Disagree | 16% |
| Strongly disagree | 2% |
Base: Total sample n=415
Note to editors
TRA (www.tra.co.nz) surveyed 1,000 New Zealanders aged 18 and over, and 400 businesses in November 2018.
Margin of error: 1000 New Zealanders +/- 3 percentage points
Margin of error: 400 Businesses +/- 5 percentage points
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