Three in four Britons fear climate change is getting worse – and say UK government isn’t doing enough

Britons are increasingly feeling the effects of a changing climate, but many believe the government is failing to respond with the urgency the crisis demands. New polling shows that three in four people are concerned about climate change, while a growing majority expect the extreme heat experienced this summer to become a recurring feature of British life.

The findings also expose a widening divide between public concern and political rhetoric. While 74% of Britons are concerned about climate change, the radical right continues to downplay its dangers, even as extreme weather is disrupting people’s everyday lives and placing new pressures on households.

A new Ipsos poll of 1,085 adults across the UK found that 87% believe Britain will experience severe heatwaves like those seen this summer in future summers. More than half of British adults (56%) say extreme summer weather has disrupted their ability to carry out normal daily activities, including working, exercising and sleeping.

Yet despite this growing public concern and direct experience of extreme heat, many Britons believe the government is falling short. 37 percent say the Labour government has done a “bad job” dealing with climate change since coming to power in July 2024, compared with just 13 percent who say it has done a “good job.”

The figures suggest a clear disconnect between the scale of the challenge facing the country and the public’s assessment of the government’s response. With extreme heat already affecting people’s ability to work, sleep and go about their daily lives, climate change is no longer simply a long-term environmental concern. It’s becoming an immediate political and public policy challenge.

The poll also highlights the political consequences of failing to meet that expectation. When asked which alternative parties would do better or worse on climate change, the Green Party is most positively viewed, 35 percent saying a Green government would do a better job dealing with climate change, compared with 24 percent who say it would do worse, while 37 percent expect it to do about the same.

55 percent believe a Reform-led government would do a worse job on climate change, while 39 percent say the same of a Conservative government.

The findings confirm a definitive divide between public concern about the climate and the rhetoric of the radical right, which continues to minimise the severity of climate change despite the crippling effects of extreme weather.

“While over half of British adults report that their daily routines were disrupted by the heat, we see a distinct gap between public concern and practical action,” said Raquel de Luis, head of energy and environment at Ipsos in the UK.

“A significant portion of the public feels the Labour government is falling short on climate response, yet individual households are struggling to adapt independently, with affordability standing as a primary barrier to installing effective home cooling measures.

“Moving forward, the key challenge for Westminster will be delivering accessible, cost-effective infrastructure and adaptation support that enables households to build resilience against recurring summer heat without adding to their financial burdens.”

In response to the poll, civil society campaign group Best for Britain said: “The radical right downplays the dangers of climate change – or flat-out lies about them. They are not in line with the British public. We need to take urgent action now.”

The findings point to a growing expectation that the government needs to do more. As extreme heat becomes a more familiar feature of British summers, the public appears increasingly concerned not only about climate change itself, but about whether the government is responding with the urgency, investment and practical support the situation demands.