Roy Morgan

The most important environmental issues facing the World today are Global warming related issues (52%, down 1% from May 2009), ahead of Pollution (19%, down 5%), Water management & Drought (19%, up 6%) and Depletion of Resources (12%, down 5%).These are the results of a recent telephone Roy Morgan Survey on the most important environmental issues facing the World and Australia conducted in November 2009.

World Environmental Issues

The precise environmental issues to increase since May this year are led by Climate change (21%, up 6%), now only just behind Global warming (23%, down 1%), Water conservation, Water management (11%, up 3%), Drought (8%, up 4%) and Famine (4%, up 3%).

Australian Environmental Issues

Since May several related environmental issues have increased significantly led by Water conservation, Water management (25%, up 5%), Drought (23%, up 7%), Climate change (16%, up 9%) and Bushfires (9%, up 5%).

When asked specifically about Global warming and the associated problems, 34% (up 11%) of Australians mentioned Rising sea levels, 27% (down 3%) cited Climate change, 17% (down 2%) said the Melting of polar ice caps and 13% (up 4%) mentioned the Greenhouse effect, Heating up of planet, Thermal blanket as a problem related to Global warming.

A slightly reduced majority of Australians aged 14+ (57%, down 1%) believe “If we don’t act now it will be too late” in relation to Global warming compared to 26% (unchanged) that say about Global warming that “Concerns are exaggerated.”

Michele Levine says:

"As revealed yesterday Environmental issues are returning to prominence as the most important issue facing the World (29%, up 8% since May 2009) and Australia (24%, up 7%) <http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2009/4439> — even though Economic issues remain at the forefront of Australian minds as an issue facing the World (29%, down 22%) and Australia (31%, down 20%).

“Although Australians clearly view Global warming issues (52%, down 1%) as the biggest environmental issue facing the World — led by those mentioning Global warming (23%, down 1%) or Climate change (21%, up 6%) — Australians are particularly worried about Water management issues (28%, up 6%) and Drought (23%, up 7%) as problems facing Australia.

“When thinking directly of the problems associated with Global warming Australians are growing increasingly concerned about Rising sea levels (34%, up 11%) — which may be related to a recent Federal Government Report that highlighted up to 250,000 Australian homes could be at risk of inundation with a sea-level rise of 1.1 metres by 2100.”

Full Details: http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2009/4440