The effects of heat are the driving concern about the impact of climate change, and people were
most concerned about more droughts and flooding affecting crop production and food supply (78%), destruction of the Great Barrier Reef (77%) and more bushfires (76%).
Acceptance of climate change closely follows voting intentions, but interestingly while One Nation (22%) and Nationals (15%) voters are the most likely to say they do not think that climate change is occurring, this declined significantly for both groups since 2017.
The Climate of the Nation reports have been tracking Australia's attitude towards climate change and energy for over a decade. Key findings of the 2018 report include:
- 73% of Australians are concerned about climate change, up from 66% in 2017
- 68% support State Governments putting in place incentives for renewable energy
- 70% agree that the Government needs to implement a plan to ensure the orderly closure of old coal plants and their replacement with clean energy
- 67% of Australians want to end coal-fired power within the next 20 years
- 53% think Governments aren’t doing enough about climate change
- 15% of Nationals voters do not think climate change is occurring, down from 29% in 2017
- 45% of One Nation voters agree the seriousness of climate change is exaggerated, down from 56% in 2017