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Brits still sceptical on climate change

25 June 2008

The Ipsos MORI poll found six out of ten respondents questioned the connection between the effects of human emissions and lifestyles and climate change.

A total of 40 per cent of interviewees thought "climate change might not be as bad as people say".

But a total of 60 per cent of the 1,039 adults surveyed did agree that "many scientific experts still question if humans are contributing to climate change".

Three-quarters of respondents said they were "concerned about climate change".

Phil Downing, Ipsos MORI's head of environmental research, told the Observer: "People are broadly concerned, but not entirely convinced.

"Despite many attempts to broaden the environment movement, it doesn't seem to have become fully embedded as a mainstream concern."

Jonathon Porritt, chairman of the government's Sustainable Development Commission, said the poll¿s findings were "disappointing" and added the government "will be really worried".

Ipsos MORI said university-educated people in social classes A or B, with a higher income, were most likely to be worried about climate change.

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