Survey reveals most of us believe climate change is man-made

Sunday, 5 May 2019

Politically conservative New Zealanders are less likely to believe humans caused climate change, a landmark science survey has found.

University researchers surveyed 9000 people, and found about 12.7 per cent of respondents - one in eight of us - don't believe humans are to blame for climate change. 7.9 per cent were unsure.

Political views were one of the clearest factors that correlated with respondents' belief that humans are causing climate change, assistant professor at the University of Canberra, Samantha Stanley, said.

'People who are less convinced that climate change is caused by humans are generally less willing to do something about it, so it is disappointing.'

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The analysis revealed more than half of sceptics, 56.4 per cent, indicated they supported National, 32.5 per cent voted Labour, 5.2 per cent for NZ First, and less than 5 per cent supported ACT and the Greens.

Stanley and Victoria University PhD candidate John Kerr found 79.5 per cent of participants agreed climate change was caused by humans.

One in eight of New Zealanders still don't believe humans caused climate change.

The research showed 63.3 per cent of those climate change skeptics were men.

'In environmental psychology, we do talk about this 'conservative white male' effect – meaning that men who align themselves with conservative political parties are typically more likely to deny climate change,' Stanley said.

'However, what underlies this effect is attitudes towards social hierarchy - essentially, individuals who are more tolerant of social inequality tend to be less concerned about environmental issues.'

About three quarters, or 76.5 per cent of participants, said they were willing to make personal sacrifices for the environment, and 74.5 per cent said they'd made some sacrifices already.

PhD student at Victoria University of Wellington John Kerr is behind the massive survey on New Zealanders' science beliefs, which attracted 9000 participants last month.

About 60 per cent said they'd support farmers in the Emissions Trading Scheme, and were not supportive of a 'fart tax'. Even framing it as a 'tax' was more off putting (47.4 per cent in support) rather han calling it a 'levy' (52.5 per cent in support).

Most participants, 86.7 per cent, agreed agriculture contributes to emissions.

Support for accepting climate change refugees was high, but just over one third of participants would support paying for seawalls to be built in coastal nations.

'Could it be that people might not be willing to help until it's too late?' Stanley said.