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NEW: 90% of scientists agree on man-made climate change – but only 11% of the public knows this

Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

NEW: 90% of scientists agree on man-made climate change – but only 11% of the public knows this

A new survey reveals important misconceptions on energy and climate change among the UK public.

IMAGE climate change ... 'As a nation we can only make sensible choices if we’re properly informed'

Only one in nine (11%) of people are aware of the strength of the scientific consensus on man-made climate change.

Nearly half of the UK population (47%) think either that most climate scientists reject the idea that human activities such as fossil fuel burning are the main driver of climate change (11%), or that scientists are evenly split on the issue (35%). Several recent studies [here and here] show that more than 90% of climate scientists agree that the main cause of climate change is human activity.

These are some key findings from the ComRes poll of over 2,000 Britons, commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) - a new non-profit initiative with a high-level advisory board including MPs, Peers and leading academics, aiming to support informed debate on energy and climate issues in the UK.

Another major misunderstanding relates to the British public’s preferences for different forms of energy. Only one in twenty (5%) of Britons know that renewables such as solar and wind are supported by a significant majority (about 80%) of the UK population . Two-thirds (63%) estimate support at under 50%.

Richard Black, director of the ECIU, said: “This survey shows that there’s a huge gap between reality and perception on some key climate and energy issues. These are important findings given that the UK has crucial decisions to make on our response to climate change and our energy system in the next few years.

“As a nation we can only make sensible choices if we’re properly informed, so it’s vital that people are aware of what the evidence is and that it’s communicated clearly.

“The breakdown between the views of scientists and the public on climate change is a particular concern. This feels reminiscent of the situation around MMR where most Britons thought the medical profession was split on the safety of the vaccine whereas doctors were virtually unanimous that it was safe.”

The ECIU has been set up to support informed debate and evidence-based communication in the fields of energy and climate change. A central part of its work will be to provide clear, accessible, up-to-date and expert-reviewed briefings on key topics.

Its advisory board reflects the breadth of society’s interest in energy and climate issues. It includes climate scientists, energy policy experts and economists, as well as a range of other stakeholders including MPs and Peers.

The survey is available here.