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| NEWS : Roy Morgan Press Releases : | |||
Australians and New Zealanders Greener Than Brits And Americans
As environmentalists around the globe united for World Environment Day (June 5, 2006), Roy Morgan International Single Source data indicates that Australians, when compared to citizens of New Zealand, the UK and the USA, are most likely to agree that “At heart I’m an environmentalist” and “If we don’t act now we’ll never control our environmental problems.” Conversely, Australians are the least likely to agree that “Environmentally friendly products are overpriced” and “Threats to the environment are exaggerated.” Australians (66%) are most likely to agree that “At heart I’m an environmentalist”, followed by citizens of New Zealand (64%), the UK (58%) and the USA (56%). Women in Australia (67%), New Zealand (66%) and the USA (58%) are more likely than their male counterparts (65%, 62% and 54% respectively) to consider themselves an “environmentalist”, whereas the proportion of UK men (59%) marginally outweighs UK women (57%). Australians aged 50-64 are the most likely (76%) of any age bracket to consider themselves an “environmentalist.”
Publicity associated with rising greenhouse gas emissions and global warming has further emphasised to citizens of all four countries the current threats to the environment. Eighty-nine per cent of Australians, 85% of New Zealanders and Britons, and 75% of Americans aged 14 and over agree that “If we don’t act now we’ll never control our environmental problems.” Women in all countries are marginally more likely than men to agree that we must “act now”: 91% cf 87% in Australia; 88% cf 83% in New Zealand; 86% cf 84% in the UK; and 79% cf 71% in the USA.
Eighteen per cent of Australians and Americans aged 14 and above, and 19% of Britons “Avoid staying at accommodation/lodgings that do not have genuine environmental policies” compared to 13% of New Zealanders. Those aged 14-17 in the UK are the most likely (28%) of any age bracket to take a destinations’ “environmental policies” into consideration when planning a holiday, whereas those aged 35-49 in each of the four countries are the least likely (9% in New Zealand, 13% in Australia, UK and USA) to agree.
Despite a growing trend amongst consumers of taking into account the environmental effects of a product on the market, it appears clear majorities in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and USA believe such items are “overpriced.” Sixty-four per cent of Australians agree “Environmentally friendly products are overpriced” compared to 77% of Britons. Respondents from the UK in each demographic are most likely to agree that “Environmentally friendly products are overpriced”, with those aged 50-64 (81%), 35-49 (80%), and 65 and over (78%) the most vehement of these.
Women are less likely than men to agree that “Threats to the environment are exaggerated” (20% cf 26% in Australia; 21% cf 31% in New Zealand; 20% cf 28% in the UK; and 25% cf 35% in the USA). American respondents appear to be the most skeptical with 30% agreeing threats are “exaggerated”, compared to 23% of Australians and 24% of Britons. Thirty-seven per cent of Americans aged 14-17 agree threats are “exaggerated”, 11% more than their adjoining age group — Americans aged 18-24 (26%).
These findings are derived from Roy Morgan International Single Source data, based on 23,540 Australian-wide interviews from people aged 14 years and above from April 2005 to March 2006, 12,253 New Zealand-wide interviews from people aged 14 and above from March 2005 to February 2006, 5,213 UK-wide interviews from people aged 14 and above from September 2004 to February 2006, and 3,569 US-wide interviews from people aged 14 and above from March 2005 to February 2006. For further information: The Morgan Poll is conducted by the ONLY Australian and New Zealand member of No Other public opinion poll taken in Australia has this qualification. |
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© 2007 Roy Morgan Research. All Rights Reserved |
