How concerned are today’s consumers about the impact of climate change? Our recent survey of 1,000 homeowners and renters revealed that 36% of people were ‘extremely concerned’ and 46% were ‘quite concerned’.
Interestingly, notable differences in the level of concern over climate change were reflected in the age demographics of our survey. 52% of 18-24 year olds were ‘extremely concerned’, compared with 36% of 25-34 year olds, 38% of 35-44 year olds, 36% of 45-54 year olds and 30% of over 55s.
It’s natural that different age groups feel differently about climate change. In many ways, older people – the pre-baby-boomers who lived through wars – were quite used to using paper bags instead of plastic, not travelling very far and doing things that were naturally sustainable.
The middle generations from the 1960s, 70s and 80s – the age of consumerism, more plastic and more convenience – are where we’ve lost our way. However, our younger generation has grown up and been educated throughout the climate change crisis, so it’s really part of their consciousness and something they’re very concerned about.
Surprisingly, 13% of respondents said they weren’t too concerned, and 4% said they ‘weren’t concerned at all’. Should all of us be worried? Absolutely.
The MET Office notes that nearly 4 in 10 of us (39%) live within 100 kilometres of a shoreline and are therefore at risk of flooding if sea levels continue to rise. 600 million of us live in a ‘low-level coastal zone’, and 200 million on a coastal flood plain, meaning many people will potentially have to leave their homes – though that number will vary depending on how we act now.
They’re predicting more heatwaves, and more flooding caused by more rain and snow melt, as well as more extreme weather events. In fact, as the planet heats up, extreme weather events have increased by 3 times since 1980; a key predictor for where our future might be going, and why we need to take climate change seriously.
Keep checking back on our blog for more insights on climate change attitudes and opinions, or download the full research paper here.
