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Climate change and global warmingClimate change and global warming
About the author
Natasha Kassam
Natasha Kassam was Director of the Lowy Institute's Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Program from 2019 to 2022, directing the annual Lowy Institute Poll and researching China’s politics, Taiwan, and Australia-China relations.
The majority of Australians (59%) continue to view climate change as a critical threat to Australia’s vital interests in the coming decade. Both ‘drought and water shortages’ and ‘environmental disasters such as bushfires and floods’ were among the top-ranked threats in 2020. However, some concern about climate change may have been overshadowed by the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting economic uncertainty.
In 2020, 56% of Australians say ‘global warming is a serious and pressing problem. We should begin taking steps now even if this involves significant costs.’ This is five points lower than in 2019, and 12 points below the peak of concern in 2006 when 68% expressed this view. The level of concern remains 20 points higher than the low point of 36% in 2012.
The urban population expresses higher levels of concern about global warming. Six in ten (59%) Australians living in capital cities see global warming as a serious and pressing problem, compared with 50% of the regional and remote population.
The generational split between older and younger Australians about climate change is narrowing slightly. Two thirds (66%) of Australians aged 18‒44 say that ‘global warming is a serious and pressing issue’ about which ‘we should begin taking steps now’, compared with 46% of Australians aged over 45. This gap has reduced to a 20-point difference, compared with 27 points in 2019. The gap widens to 30 points when comparing the youngest age group of 18‒29 years with the oldest age group of Australians over 60 (73% and 43% respectively).
After news of Australia’s bushfire crisis last summer was broadcast around the world, many Australians say the country’s approach to climate change has had a negative impact on Australia’s reputation.
Almost half say Australia’s approach to climate change has negatively affected our reputation in the world
Almost half of Australians (47%) say that Australia’s approach to climate change has had either a very or somewhat negative effect on Australia’s reputation in the world. One third (33%) say that Australia’s approach has had a positive effect, and 18% say that it has had no effect on Australia’s reputation at all.
The numbers are similar when it comes to Australia’s relations in the Pacific: half the population (51%) say Australia’s approach to climate change has had a somewhat or very negative effect on Australia’s relations with Pacific island countries. Less than a third (29%) say that Australia’s approach to climate change has had a positive effect on these relations, and 17% say there has been no effect at all.
