August 17, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Britain believe it is their responsibility to deal with global warming, according to a poll by YouGov published in the Daily Telegraph. 54 per cent of respondents think they should act to reduce their impact on the planet, and by setting a good example put pressure on other countries to do more to fight climate change.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Britain believe it is their responsibility to deal with global warming, according to a poll by YouGov published in the Daily Telegraph. 54 per cent of respondents think they should act to reduce their impact on the planet, and by setting a good example put pressure on other countries to do more to fight climate change.

Conversely, 25 per cent of respondents think anything Britain does on its own is irrelevant, while 15 per cent say it is not yet clear if climate change is a problem.

The term global warming refers to an increase of the Earth's average temperature. Some theories say that climate change might be the result of human-generated carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Earlier this year, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report which states that global warming has been "very likely"—or 90 per cent certain—caused by humans burning fossil fuels.

In 1998, several countries agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, a proposed amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement commits nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. As a member of the European Union (EU), Britain ratified the protocol in May 2002.

Earlier this month, British prime minister Gordon Brown downgraded the Ministerial Committee on Energy and the Environment—which dealt with climate change during the government of Tony Blair—to a sub-committee. Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne expressed dismay, saying, "This is a clear sign that climate change is not a priority for the prime minister. Despite his recent rhetoric Gordon Brown fails to realize the need for a joined-up environmental policy."

Polling Data

Which of these best sums up your view about Britain's policies towards climate change?

We should do what we can to reduce our impact on the planet, and by setting a good example put pressure on other countries to do more to fight climate change	54%
Anything Britain does on its own is irrelevant because our carbon emissions are only 2 per cent of the world total—we should take only those actions that are agreed	25%
It is not yet clear that climate change is a real problem, and we should take no specific action unless and until there is firm evidence that action is needed	15%
Don't know	7%

Source: YouGov / Daily Telegraph
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,966 British adults, conducted on Aug. 9 and Aug. 10, 2007. No margin of error was provided.