Times poll showed that 41% of voters think that “climate change is happening & ... largely man made.” But the public is more positive on green policy.
On Saturday, The Times splashed on a Populus poll showing that only 41 per cent of voters think that “climate change is happening and is now established as largely man made.” But the headline hid more positive reactions to various green policy measures.
Without wishing to downplay The Times’ worrying top line finding, as interesting were the poll results on green taxes and regulations. In particular:
- 57 per cent would support “new taxes on air travel with the aim of reducing the number of flights people take.”
- 68 per cent would support “much higher taxes on cars that use a lot of petrol and emit a lot of carbon dioxide.”
- 87 per cent support “New building regulations for all new houses to meet highest standards of insulation and make more use of renewable energy such as solar power, even if it increases costs.”
- 69 per cent support “Setting limits on carbon dioxide emissions making companies pay for emissions, even if it results in higher prices for manufactured goods and energy.”
The Times manages to interpret this data as a sign that “voters … will resist new green taxes.”
The editorial laments “a failure of political communication” and notes how “none of the main parties has yet succeeded in making this issue its own” and ends with this brilliant line:
“Lord Rees (President of the Royal Society) has reminded us that we now live in a global village and it is, he pointed out, probably inevitable that there will be some global village idiots.”
His comments only underline the point, noted by Grist that, “Public opinion on matters of science is of great interest for a great many reasons, but it is a poor guide for public policy.”
According to the paper’s poll, Conservative voters are more dubious than Labour and Lib Dem supporters. This will not come as a surprise to anyone who has ever taken a peep at the Conservative blogosphere.
9 Responses to “Times’ climate change poll contains good news and bad”
Claire Spencer
I don’t think there is a single climate change model, to be honest with you – certainly, methane was often overlooked until relatively recently – but there are numerous models that do take it into account, and I know that climate scientists keep an eye on atmospheric levels of the gas. But ultimately, it is pushed into second place by carbon. I’ve said this on here before, but climate science is unpredictable – so the more data collected, the more accurate the picture will be. It takes more than one result to reshape the picture – although obviously, I’d still like to read what you are alluding to. Was that the study which said that forests took in more C02 than previously thought?
I think in terms of getting individuals to engage with the issue of climate change, it just makes sense to talk in terms of carbon – if nothing else, it’s easier. If people genuinely live more sustainably, the other GHGs will, at least to some extent, also be reduced. However, I do agree with you that we don’t need to make the point using climate change alone, we should also be thinking seriously about the fact we are running out of oil – something that we can all agree and act on.
Anon E Mouse
Claire – try this as a start, the links are from it….
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1226808/Earth-absorbing-CO2-claims-climate-change-study.html
Claire Spencer
I can’t believe you made me look at the Daily Mail *washes eyes*… 😉 …but yes, I had heard of this, and it is interesting. But it does not support the stance that climate change is not man made – Dr Knorr is pretty clear on that: http://jonesthenews.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/bristol-research-does-not-support-climate-change-denial/
Anon E Mouse
Claire – I do think we should reduce CO2, I just don’t like all this panic merchant doom sayer stuff.
To hear our Prime Minister making outlandish claims about Copenhagen saying “We only have 56 days to save the planet” is just pathetic.
I did hear a scientist on 5 Live last night who was explaining how the sun (that pole flipping thing) was affecting the climate re: solar radiation so perhaps the climate change brigade are at least now trying to include that data as well which is a good thing.
I don’t read the Mail myself but remember as Britain’s second biggest daily newspaper a lot of people agree with it’s views on things, including the reasons for climate change.