New Zealanders are saying that the importance of this issues is not matched by the leadership, action or progress that is needed.
Climate change is a critical issue for New Zealand. Not just the challenge of reducing our emissions and reaching net zero by 2050, but also in dealing with the inevitable and growing impacts that our changing climate will bring.
For the past five years we have been asking New Zealanders about their attitudes towards climate change and how the country should adapt to its impacts. This year we have looked back across the five years of results to see what has changed, what hasn’t and what that says about the way forward.
Overall, New Zealanders are saying that the importance of this issue is not matched by the leadership, action or progress that is needed if we are all to successfully adapt to the inevitable impacts of our changing climate. They are saying these impacts are serious and growing, and that the issue is important. But while they are prepared to act, they don’t know what to do and so don’t take action. They want the financial signals but not the costs of change. They expect the Government to lead but aren’t seeing that leadership. And they are not confident that the country’s response is on the right track.
We think that is because the response has been too general and abstract. It must now become much more specific and real so that there is a clear path forward and that everyone understands the role they have and the contribution they need to make. It is only then that we will see the progress that is needed. At IAG, we are prepared to play our part.
If you would like to know more, please watch the video, download our summary report or look through the past five years results.
This Ipsos-IAG survey was of 1,011 people and ran between 26 April and 3 May. It has a margin of error of 3.1%.
If you’d like to talk more about climate change or our survey’s findings, please get in touch with us at sustainability@iag.co.nz.