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POLL QUESTIONS AND RESULTS
Question 1
Thinking now about global warming. There is a controversy over what the countries of the world, including Australia, should do about the problem of global warming. I’m going to read you three statements. Please tell me which statement comes closest to your own point of view.
|
2006 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2015 |
Global warming is a serious and pressing problem. We should begin taking steps now even if this involves significant costs |
68% |
60% |
48% |
46% |
41% |
36% |
40% |
45% |
50% |
52% |
The problem of global warming should be addressed, but its effects will be gradual, so we can deal with the problem gradually by taking steps that are low in cost |
24% |
32% |
39% |
40% |
40% |
45% |
44% |
38% |
38% |
36% |
Until we are sure that global warming is really a problem, we should not take any steps that would have economic costs |
7% |
8% |
13% |
13% |
19% |
18% |
16% |
15% |
12% |
11% |
Don’t know / refused |
1% |
* |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
2% |
* |
1% |
Question 2
The Australian Government has set a target for Australia to reduce its emissions by the year 2030, to 26-28% below the emissions produced in the year 2005. It will use these targets in a UN international conference next month, where nations will try to negotiate a global agreement on climate change.
Which one of the following statements most closely represents your personal view of the approach the Government should take in the negotiations?
It should be prepared to make stronger commitments on emissions reductions in the interests of reaching a global agreement |
62% |
It should stick to its target regardless of what other countries do |
36% |
Don’t know / no view / makes no difference / don’t care / don’t believe in climate change / refused |
2% |
Question 3
In your personal view, which one of the following would you most prefer that the Australian Government do to reduce carbon emissions?
Continue the Government’s Direct Action plan which pays businesses for emissions reduction projects |
51% |
Introduce an emissions trading scheme or price on carbon, where people pay for their carbon emissions |
43% |
Neither |
4% |
Don’t know / no view |
2% |
Notes
These results are drawn from a nationally representative telephone poll of 1,002 Australian adults conducted on behalf of the Lowy Institute by Fieldworks between 25 October and 4 November 2015. The error margin on the poll is approximately 3.1%.