Today nine in ten (93%) Welsh people believe that the world’s climate is changing and three in four (72%) think that the lead to combate climate change should come from the Government, even if it means using the law to change people’s behaviour.
These are among the findings of new research into people’s attitudes towards climate change commissioned by BBC Cymru Wales. The research forms the basis of the Green Wales season of thought-provoking programming which takes an inquisitive look into what we are doing both as individuals and as a society to address the problem. As politicans across the world prepare for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen BBC Wales will be asking – if the climate’s changing – are we?
Although three quarters (75%) believe that the majority of recent climate change is a result of human behaviour over half of those people (52%) asked believe that whatever we do as individuals won’t make a difference when other countries are using more and more fossil fuel.
“What I feel really cross about is countries like America,” explains a female from Carmarthen. “They emit so much and destroy so much of the world.”
When questioned on how they think change will happen three in four (72%) think that the lead should come from the Government.
As one man from Caernarfon suggested:
“The Council could do more with your poll tax: if you recycle 50% of your waste, you get 20% discount on your poll tax. Something like that would motivate everyone.”
The report suggests that there is a willingness to make changes with three quarters (76%) thinking that altering their lifestyle is worthwhile however one in three agree that making those changes is too expensive (32%).
“It’s important that children know that they need to recycle,” comments a teenager from Carmarthen. “We are the ones who will be here in the future so we need to care about what the world will be like for when we’re older.”
Commenting on the report, Mandy Rose, Creative Director for Green Wales says:
“The survey suggests that the vast majority of people in Wales now believe that there is climate change caused by human activity, and they’re concerned about it. But it’s not a simple picture. The focus groups we commissioned reveal a lot of confusion about the issue of climate change and uncertainty about what people should be doing in response.
“BBC Wales’ Green Wales season aims to fill this gap – with a raft of programming and debate over the coming weeks about what is being done in Wales to reduce the use of fossil fuels and live more sustainably.”
On television:
- Changing Lives, Monday, November 30; Thursday, December 3; Monday, December 7; Friday, December 11; Monday, December 14, BBC One Wales, 8.30pm
- Make Do and Mend, Tuesday, December 1, BBC Two Wales, 7pm
- Week In Week Out: Coming Clean on Climate Change, Tuesday, December 1, BBC One Wales, 10.35pm
- Cheat Neutral, Tuesday, December 1, BBC Two Wales, 11.20pm
- Perfect Summer, Wednesday, December 2, BBC One Wales, 10.45pm
- The Polar Bear Song, Wednesday, December 2, BBC Two Wales, 11.20pm
- What’s the Point, Tuesday, December 15, BBC One Wales, 10.45pm
- How Green Was My Quarry, Wednesday, December 16, BBC One Wales, 10.45pm
- Dragon’s Eye Green Debate, Thursday, December 17, BBC One Wales, 10.35pm
On radio:
A host of special programmes on BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales
Online:
Join in the debate, get news and stories from around Wales, catch up on the programmes in the season and watch exclusive web videos.
