Climate urgency on rise among young

New research shows young Kiwis are aware of the urgency of climate change, but the older generation is less convinced.

According to a new report by Horizon Research, 78 per cent of 18to 24-year-olds considered climate change to be an immediate problem, compared with 66 per cent of people aged 75 and over.

Horizon Research has been tracking public opinion on climate change since 2006. Since then, there has been a significant decrease overall in the number of people who believe climate change action can wait – 74 per cent thought that in 2006, but in 2021 that figure has fallen to 24 per cent, despite higher numbers of older people remaining unconcerned.

Overall, Kiwis have very little confidence that the world will do enough in the next 10 years to avoid damaging temperature rises.

The results are from a survey of 1097 people aged 18 and over, weighted to reflect the New Zealand adult population at the previous census.

Seventy-eight per cent of adults think temperature rises due to climate change are unavoidable. Only 15 per cent think we can turn things around in time, and the rest aren’t sure.

Wellington City councillor Tamatha Paul said that although the older generation sometimes likened climate change to the existential threats the world had faced, and conquered, in the past – nuclear weapons, wars, diseases – climate change was ‘‘a different beast’’.

‘‘We know that climate change is happening now, and needs investment now,’’ she said. The younger generation had much at stake. ‘‘The obvious concern is that we are the ones that will be faced with the effects,’’ she said.

Frustratingly, many of the decision-makers in society were in the older age bracket, and so progress was too slow for the liking of younger activists, who were often ridiculed for their fear of the future.

‘‘Most people my age, have some kind of climate anxiety,’’ Paul said. ‘‘The scariest thing for me is thinking about those most vulnerable communities will be affected.’’

Pacific communities didn’t have the luxury of doubt. ‘‘For them, it’s a now problem.’’

The online survey was conducted by Horizon Research between November 17 and 27, 2021. It is weighted by age, gender, personal income, and employment status to reflect the census population.