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Australian Opinion Leaders View Global Warming As The Most Important Environmental Issue For The World, Only One-In-Five Believe Concerns Exaggerated
Australia’s Opinion Leaders* largely believe Global warming (42%) is the most important Environmental issue facing the World today, 11% said Climate change, followed by Water conservation/Water management, Energy crisis/Depletion of fossil fuels and Logging of forests or deforestation (10% each). These are the results of a recent Roy Morgan on-line survey of Australian Opinion Leaders. A recent telephone Morgan Poll taken to assess the views of all Australians aged over 14 finds that a slightly lower proportion (35%) believe Global warming is the most important Environmental issue facing the World today followed by the Greenhouse effect/Greenhouse gases (15%) and Pollution (14%). For Australia , Opinion Leaders believe Water conservation/Water management (38%) is the most important environmental issue, followed by Salinity (19%) and Global Warming (18%), and although Australians aged over 14 also believe Water conservation/Water management (27%) is the most important Environmental issue facing Australia they also view Logging of forests or Deforestation (15%) as a major issue. When it comes to Global warming only 20% of Opinion Leaders believe “ Concerns are exaggerated ”, while 63% think that “ If we don’t act now it will be too late ” and 17% think “ It is already too late ”. Even fewer Australians aged over 14 (13%) believe concerns about Global warming are “ Exaggerated ”, 67% think that “ If we don’t act now it will be too late ”, while 15% believe “I t is already too late ” and 5% couldn’t say. When Australia’s Opinion Leaders were asked what they believe are the most important problems associated with Global warming, almost two-in-five (39%) believe Climate change is a problem associated with Global warming, with 31% mentioning Rising sea levels and 20% Melting of the Polar ice caps. Extreme weather events (15%), Drought (11%) and Loss of species (10%) are also thought to be associated with Global warming. These are the main findings from an on-line Roy Morgan Opinion Leaders Poll conducted Australia-wide October 13-18 with 1,461 Opinion Leaders . The telephone Morgan Poll was conducted Australia-wide on the evenings of October 5/6, 2005, with 663 respondents aged 14 and over. For further information: Gary Morgan : Office (03) 9224 5213 Mobile 0411 129 094 Home (03) 9419 3242 Michele Levine : Office (03) 9224 5215 Mobile 0411 129 093 Home (03) 9817 3066 *The sample for the Opinion Leaders survey was drawn from the ‘top end’ of Roy Morgan Single Source - a well constructed Australia-wide sample of people of income $80,000+ or in the top occupational categories or have a degree, and included booster samples from Henry Thornton Readers, Crikey! Readers, Australian Institute of International Affairs Members, Marcus Oldham Associates, Davos Connection Associates and the Australian American Association Members. Environmental Issues Facing The World and Australia Respondents were asked: “Next about Global Environmental issues. What do you believe are the important Environmental issues facing the World today? Which others? Any others? and “Next about Australian Environmental issues. What do you believe are the important Environmental issues facing Australia today? Which others? Any others?” Australian Opinion Leaders view the important Environmental issues facing the World and Australia today differently. Sixty-three percent of Opinion Leaders believe Global Warming issues are some of the most important Environmental issues facing the World today, with 18% believing Depletion of Resources followed by 13% Pollution and 12% Water Management Issues. However when it comes to Environmental issues facing Australia, 53% of Opinion Leaders believe Water conservation, Water management, Erosion, Salinity or Drought are the most important issues, 34% think Global Warming and 10% think Depletion of Resources.
(Respondents could give more than one issue) Problems Associated With Global Warming Respondents were then asked: “Next about Global Warming. From what you know or have heard, what problems are associated with Global Warming?” Australian Opinion Leaders view Climate Change (73%) as the main problem associated with Global Warming, as do Australians Aged 14+ (69%). However, Opinion Leaders are more than twice as likely than the average Australian to believe Natural Disasters are a problem associated with Global Warming (27% cf 13%).
(Respondents could say more than one problem associated with Global warming.) Views About Global Warming Respondents were then asked: “Which of the following is closest to your view about Global Warming?” The majority of both Opinion Leaders (63%) and Australians (67%) believe of Global Warming that “If we don’t act now it will be too late” , while 17% and 15% respectively believe “ It is already too late ”. Opinion Leaders are more likely than the average Australian to believe that concerns about Global Warming are “ Exaggerated ” (20% cf 13%).
Views about Global Warming by Industry Opinion Leaders working in the Agricultural industry are the most likely (31%) to think that concerns about Global Warming are exaggerated, with those working in the Wholesale industry the least likely (5%). Majorities of Opinion Leaders in all industries believe that “I f we don’t act now it will be too late ” —with the only exception being the Construction industry on 49%. Opinion Leaders in the Wholesale industry support this view most strongly with 86% believing that “I f we don’t act now it will be too late ”. Those Opinion Leaders most sceptical about Global Warming are to be found in the Agriculture (31%); Mining (29%); Finance and Insurance (26%); and Public administration and Defence (25%) sectors. Opinion Leaders least likely to believe that concerns about global warming are exaggerated are most likely to be found in the Education (15%); Health and Other community services (14%); Telecommunications (12%) and Wholesale (5%) sectors. Opinion Leaders working in the Construction industry are more likely (29%) than any other industry to believe “I t is already too late ” to address Global Warming issues.
Environmental Issues and Global Warming Issues By Industry Analysis by Industry Sector
Opinion Leaders unanimously agree that Global warming (42%) is the main Environmental issue facing the World and Water conservation/Water management (38%) is the main issue facing Australia . However, analysis on an industry-by-industry basis shows that the reasons why Opinion Leaders are concerned about Global warming and Water conservation/Water management differ between industries, as do their views on other important Environmental issues.
Agriculture Opinion Leaders in Agriculture are more likely than other industries to mention Water conservation (16%) Pollution (13%) and Urbanisation (3%) as Environmental issues facing the World , with comments such as: “Clean and replenishable water”, “Population growth and use of prime agricultural land for urban development” and “Pollution of our oceans and rivers”. Although many industries mention Water conservation/Water management and Salinity as Environmental issues facing Australia , people employed in Agriculture are particularly concerned about these issues (Water conservation/Water management 44%, Salinity 25%) with comments such as: “Water - lack of reliable water supply to farmers & increasingly to cities”, “Not enough attention to water conservation in view of our uncontrollable population increase” and “We need to harness much more of our natural rainfall rather than letting over 90% of it run out to sea as is the case at the moment”. Opinion Leaders in Agriculture are more likely than any other industry to mention Climate change (49%) as a problem associated with Global warming, saying: “ Noticeable changes in the usefulness of agricultural land”, “Major effects are worse extremes of weather which increases the risk associated with agriculture” and “Changed weather patterns, reduced agricultural production and larger and more severe droughts”.
Business Services Opinion Leaders in the area of Business Services believe Energy crisis/Depletion of fossil fuels (15%) is an important Environmental issue facing the World , mentioning: “Reliance on fossil fuels and non-renewable energy sources” and “Dwindling fossil fuel reserves” When asked about Environmental issues facing Australia , Opinion Leaders in Business Services are concerned about Global Warming (21%) as well as Water conservation/Water management (31%), saying: “Global Warming has serious implications for the economy, health, environment etc on a local scale”, “Overproduction on agricultural land resulting in land degradation and salinity” and “Water supplies and Government not listening to the people supporting it”. People in the Business Services industry appear to be more cynical about Global warming than other industries, with comments such as: “The urgent need is to challenge the doomsayers on what is predicted to be a very small increase in global temperatures, and to conduct a rigorous cost-benefit analysis on any measures proposed” and “Human caused global warming is a theory, not a fact. The possible consequences range in magnitude. I have heard all sorts of alarmist claims from increased disease, drought to increased rainfall and irregular weather conditions”.
Construction As well as Global warming Opinion Leaders working in the Construction industry also mention the Energy crisis and Depletion of fossil fuels (24%) and Depletion of natural resources (19%) as Environmental issues facing the World , making comments such as: “Dependence on fossil fuels and unchecked deforestation in third World and developing countries” and “Over-reliance on fossil fuel because we have no affordable and environmentally friendly alternatives”. When asked about Environmental issues facing Australia , Opinion Leaders employed in the Construction industry are more concerned about the Extinction or loss of species (11%) and the Depletion of natural resources (14%) than most other industries, as well as being concerned about Water conservation/Water management, saying: “ Environmental degradation. In Australia , this is becoming increasingly symbolic through the city-country divide”, “Our hot climate will undoubtedly become much hotter and our seasons will change dramatically, probably creating a desert country in the future. Our farming industry will cease to exist”. Rising sea levels (30%) and Pollution (11%) are considered to be problems associated with Global warming by some of those in the Construction industry, with comments such as: “Earth becoming dimmer as more pollution plumes blocks out sun light, also causes dirty rain which pollutes Earth”, “Long term weather patterns will shift and the atmosphere will heat up. Likely to cause huge shifts in agriculture, drought, rainfall and storms”, “The ice caps are melting causing rising sea levels. We should be storing and containing rain water to reduce the effects on rising sea levels”.
Education A majority (51%) of Opinion Leaders working in Education mention Global warming as an Environmental issue facing the World , with comments such as: “Global warming - I didn't trust the reports once but the evidence seems overwhelming now”, “Global warming e.g. rising water levels, destruction of ecology as temperatures change, destruction of coral reefs”, “Blatant disregard for the natural environment. The priority of making money over ensuring we have a healthy planet to live in”. Opinion Leaders working in Education also believe Global warming (23%) is an Environmental issue facing Australia . Some Opinion Leaders in this industry also mentioned unsustainable farming practices as an issue for Water conservation/Water management with comments such as: “Inadequate attention to sustainable management of water supplies and land. Refusal to ratify Kyoto sent the correct (though embarrassing) message about our national priorities.”, “Water assets and inappropriate crops such as cotton being grown” and “Degradation of land and river systems due to flawed water and irrigation policies and unsustainable farming practices”. When asked about Global warming Opinion Leaders working in Education are particularly concerned about Climate change/Atmospheric change (43%), saying: “Change in ecology of many organisms that use climate as their 'ecological clock', these will also get out of sync with others that respond to other things such as day length” and “change in climatic structures which effects the environment and the air we breath”.
Electricity, Gas and Water Although those working in the Electricity, Gas and Water industries are primarily concerned about Global warming (42%) and Climate change (17%) as Environmental issues facing the World , Water pollution (8%) and Depletion of natural resources (13%) were also mentioned: “The lack of usable water - it's only getting worse”, “Renewable resource over exploitation” and “Water - quality and supply”. When asked about Environmental issues facing Australia, Opinion Leaders working in the Utilities sector also mention farming practices as a concern in the area of Water conservation/Water management, with comments such as: “Water usage - persuading farmers and politicians that some sorts of agriculture are simply not suitable for our country”, “Climate Change and reducing water for major population centers” and “Loss of the River Murray as a viable water supply”. Those working in Electricity, Gas and Water are concerned about Loss of species (21%) as a problem associated with Global warming, saying: “Substantial loss of biodiversity (globally)” and “Dying of reef systems such as the Great Barrier Reef”.
Finance and Insurance In addition to Global warming and Water conservation/Water management, Opinion Leaders in the Finance and Insurance industries believe Pollution to be an Environmental issue for both the World (12%) and Australia (5%), commenting for the World : “Pollution - especially developing Asia ” and “Pollution and managing global warming. The two are of course closely linked: -if pollution is not reduced then a range of social and climatic factors will be devastating”, and for Australia : “The results of global warming are already affecting us - we should not be having the droughts we do”, “Lack of water due to inefficient use by primary producers”, “Water — it’s distribution, lack of recycling, measures that are too soft - lack of government initiative at all levels”, “Crop growers' use of water from the Murray Darling Basin - Australia does not need to grow cotton!” and “A shortage of water and how to move from a system of rationing it to a system of charging households for it”.
Health and Other community services Opinion Leaders working in Health and Other community services mention the Greenhouse effect/Greenhouse gases (11%) as an Environmental issue facing the World , commenting: “Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere-the greenhouse effect” and “Green House gases - coming to grips with the fact there is a problem”. For Australia , Opinion Leaders in the Health and Other community services sector are largely concerned with Water conservation/Water management as an Environmental issue with some respondents again mentioning agricultural practices, with comments such as: “Water supply. Although we get enough rainfall in most urban areas, we lack the imagination to capture it more effectively. This leads to 'economic' options such as costly desalination plants being suggested”, “Drought cycles, inappropriate use of land (agricultural practices), water shortage, all of the above being exacerbated by climate change”, “Water management, more efficient use/ capture of storm/ rainwater; recycling water for industry & more efficient agricultural use of water” and “Salinity - due to many things including land clearing, irrigation inequities etc”. As well as mentioning climate change (35%), Opinion Leaders in the Health and Other community services sector are more likely than other industries to mention rising sea temperatures (9%) as a problem associated with Global warming, commenting: “Rising sea temperatures resulting in the loss of marine species”, “Warming of oceans; effects on sea creatures and marine life” and “Rising sea levels due to rising temperatures will cause massive problems in the long term, including 'natural' disasters, loss of species, not to mention loss of arable land”.
Manufacturing People working in the Manufacturing industry believe Logging of forests or Deforestation (11%) to be an Environmental problem facing the World , mentioning: “Destruction of old growth forests” and “Environmental destruction in impoverished third World countries - but you cannot tell someone they are going to die of starvation because you don't like them cutting down rainforest”. For Environmental issues facing Australia , Opinion Leaders are more likely to mention Depletion of natural resources (7%), with comments such as: “Effective water management, and our lack of policy and lack of contribution with regards to greenhouse effect”, “'Watering of Australia' - devising means of exploiting the high rainfall in Northern Australia” and “Lack of fresh water supplies, Australia should encourage everyone to conserve water and every household should have water collection tanks”.
Opinion Leaders employed in the Media and Communications sectors are particularly concerned with Global warming (46%) as an Environmental issue facing the World. They are also more likely than some other industries to mention Extinction or loss of species (11%) as an Environmental issue facing the World , saying: “Global warming and the destruction of animal habitat in Africa”, “Extinction of species- diminishing bio-diversity” and “The possibility that global warming is affecting climate and how you reconcile that with the need for economic growth in emerging economies”. When asked about Environmental issues facing Australia , Opinion Leaders in this industry are concerned about Water conservation (36%) and Salinity (20%), and are more likely than those working in some other industries to mention Logging of forests or deforestation (13%). They made comments such as: “Wasteful attitude towards water, and this ridiculous desalination plant in NSW!”, “Unsustainable use of water (surface and groundwater) and our riverine environments, and unsustainable solutions, such as desalination”, “Global warming - particularly the global impact of our current practices in industry, personal lifestyles, etc”, “Poor farming practices which strip the land — deforestation” and “Degradation of natural bushland”. Media and Communications people are more likely than those Opinion Leaders employed in some other industries to think Melting of the Polar ice caps (24%) and Extreme weather events (20%) were problems associated with Global warming, saying: “More extreme and frequent weather events (such as cyclones, hurricanes and drought), melting of the icecaps and increase in sea levels”, “Melting in the Arctic and Antarctic regions”.
Mining In addition to Global warming (45%), those employed in the Mining industry mention Cars/Exhaust from cars (10%) and Landfill (7%) as Environmental issues facing the World , saying: “Pollution from industry and motor vehicles” and “Excess reliance on private vs public transport”. For Australia , Opinion Leaders in the Mining industry are concerned about Global warming (23%) and are more concerned about the effects of mining than those employed in other industries, with comments such as: “Australians learning to live within the context of the Australian continent” and “Global warming causing rising sea levels killing reefs (an important tourism resource)”, “Unsustainable mining”,” The possible expansion of uranium mining” and “Deforestation and over-mining.”
Property Opinion Leaders employed in the Property industry are largely concerned about Global warming (48%) and Logging of forests or deforestation (16%) as problems facing the World , saying: “Micro destruction - be it over-fishing, logging, extinction” and “Global warming and clearing of forests and trees generally”. For Australia , Water conservation/Water management (48%) is the focus, particularly in regard to agricultural practices, with comments such as: “Salinity in rivers and broadacres”, “Too many farmers using too much water and clearing too much land on uneconomic farms”, and “Farming of marginal lands, water storage and usage and salinity” When asked about problems associated with Global warming, Extreme weather events (23%) and Water conservation (16%) are also an issue for those in the Property industry, with comments such: “Increase in extreme weather conditions”, “The ability to provide fresh water will be compromised by climate change” and “Changing weather patterns, leading to longer droughts and erratic storms”.
Public Administration & Defence Opinion Leaders in Public Administration and Defence are concerned about the Logging of forests or deforestation (15%) and Water conservation/Water management (13%) as Environmental issues facing the World , commenting: “Fresh water is a looming World environmental problem”, “Land degradation and deforestation”, “Chopping down old growth forest and, lack of respect for the environment” and “Water availability and quality”. For Australia , Climate change (11%) and Logging of forests or deforestation (12%) are considered important, with people in Public Administration and Defence commenting: “Global climate change and the impact of greenhouse warming/global dimming”, “Climate change! That is not to belittle the other environmental problems such as over-use of water etc”, “Land clearing leading to rainfall reduction, crop chemical runoffs to natural waterways, emissions from coal fired power stations”, “Inability of the Federal Government to accept that Global Warming requires adherence to a collective response” and “Land clearing leading to rainfall reduction and crop chemical runoff to natural waterways”. Rising sea levels (36%) are a problem concerned with Global warming according to Opinion Leaders in Public Administration and Defence . They mention: “Increased ocean levels, island countries being wiped out, species being wiped out”, “Rising oceans impact on low lying countries” and “They include the impact of rising sea level which will cause population dislocations and fresh water disputes between nations”.
Retail As well as being concerned about Global warming and Water conservation/Water management, Opinion Leaders employed in Retail are concerned about the Greenhouse effect/Greenhouse gases as an Environmental issue facing the World (19%), Australia (10%) and as a problem associated with Global warming (19%), with comments such as: “Lack of fresh water and an increasingly dry climate will cause Australia to re-assess our whole identity”, “Greenhouse gas emissions” and “Emissions by ALL countries contributing to Global Warming”.
Telecommunications As well as Global warming, Opinion Leaders in Telecommunications believed Pollution (12%) to be an Environmental issue facing the World , mentioning: “Accelerated Global Warming due to human activity”, “Pollution and lack of care for the environment in third World countries” and “Pollution created from power generation. Not enough investment in green power sources.” For Australia , Water conservation/Water management (40%) is considered particularly important and Greenhouse effect/Greenhouse gases (12%) are also mentioned frequently. Comments include: “Development of a sustainable water usage re-usage policy”, “The effect of global warming on Australian climate and lifestyle. A close second would be the effect of the changing ozone layer and the longer term health effects on people”, “Not enough value placed on water, not specifically by consumers but by corporations”, “Lack of commitment to reduction of energy consumption and reduction of greenhouse gas production” and “A lack of future planning for water retention and use causing a degradation in our rivers and a lack of potable water”.
Transport and Storage Opinion Leaders in the Transport and Storage industries believe Energy crisis/Depletion of fossil fuels (11%) and Air pollution (9%) are Environmental issues facing the World , mentioning: “Emissions from industry to the atmosphere” and “Over consumption of non renewable resources such as fossil fuels”. For Australia , Water conservation/Water management (49%) and Climate change (20%) are considered to be important Environmental issues by those in the Transport and Storage industries, with comments such as: “Overdevelopment, depletion of forests, salination of farm lands, water stocks diminishing”, “The effects of global warming here in Australia and salination”, “Lack of funding and resources to address issues like water and the salination of our wetlands and great river systems”, “Excessive water use by unsustainable agricultural industries (cotton and rice)” and “Lack of long term thinking particularly with water and land usage”. Rising sea levels (40%) are considered to be a problem associated with Global warming , with comments such as: “The greatest problems are rising sea level as a result of the polar caps melting and consequently increasing temperatures”.
Wholesale Those Opinion Leaders working in the Wholesale sector believe that Water conservation/Water Management is an important issue facing the World (19%) and Australia (52%). This opinion can be seen in comments such as “ Water infrastructure planning ” and “ Water —our lack of infrastructure and ridiculous farming practices like cotton ”. Opinion Leaders in this sector also mention Extinction of loss of species; Air pollution and Depletion of natural resources as important Environmental issues facing the World . When it comes to Australia ’s Environmental issues Global warming and the Depletion of natural resources are those issues most commonly raised by Opinion Leaders in the Wholesale sector. A typical response from an Opinion Leader in the Wholesale sector was “ The lack of acknowledgement of our involvement in global warming ”. Climate change and Atmospheric change, Rising sea levels, and Greenhouse effect, Heating up of planet and Thermal blanket are all problems associated with Global warming by Opinion Leaders from the Wholesale sector.
The on-line Roy Morgan Opinion Leaders Poll was conducted Australia-wide October 13-18 with 1,461 Opinion Leaders . The telephone Morgan Poll was conducted Australia-wide on the evenings of October 5/6, 2005, with 663 respondents aged 14 and over. |
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