UK Consumers Least Worried About Climate Change, Says Global Survey

November 20, 2009 - Press Dispensary - Who cares about climate change? Judging by the results of a recent HSBC survey, the answer from the United Kingdom is: ‘Not us.’

Scientists, environmental campaigners and politicians are constantly warning of the dangers of global warming but it appears the message is failing to make an impact, because according to the worldwide HSBC Climate Confidence Monitor 2009, people in the UK worry least about climate change and how we respond to it.

The survey polled consumers from 12 countries – Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the UK and the USA – on their attitudes and behaviour regarding the threat of climate change.

When participants were asked how strongly they agreed with the statement: ‘Climate change and how we respond to it are among the biggest issues I worry about today,’ the UK ranked lowest of all, directly below USA, Australia and Canada respectively. Consumers in Mexico were in strongest agreement with the statement, followed by Hong Kong and Brazil.

The people of UK also ranked poorly regarding action taken against global warming. Of the 12 countries surveyed, the people of the UK were second from bottom in the rankings for low carbon choices made to lower carbon footprints and tackle climate change, just above the USA, with China ranking the highest.

On the question of public spending to tackle climate change, the majority of UK consumers indicated that providing healthcare and fighting crime should be a higher priority.

Ahead of the crucial United Nations meeting in Copenhagen in December to discuss a new international agreement on emissions reduction before the Kyoto Protocol expires, the survey asked the people of the world how much importance they placed on a global deal being achieved. Once again, the UK ranked near the bottom of the list, ahead of only Canada and USA respectively.

Globally, concern over climate change appears to be falling: the HSBC Climate Confidence Monitor 2009 shows an overall drop of eight per cent among consumers in the last year and 12 per cent in developing countries since 2007.

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Notes for editors
For more information and results from the HSBC Climate Confidence Monitor 2009, see http://www.hsbc.com/1/2/climateconfidencemonitor

Ravi Sunnak 020 7478 7818
Grant Richmond-Coggan 0207 025 7517
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