ETA: Ahead of climate change Budget, environmental groups face public apathy, survey shows

Green groups tackling climate change and carbon emissions are facing yet another challenge – public apathy.

Thirty percent of people feel there is too much coverage in the media about CO2 emissions, and over half of these are ‘bored hearing about it,’ a YouGov survey conducted on behalf of the by the Environmental Transport Association reveals.

The poll also showed that although environmental apathy is a problem equal across social grades and regions, the same is not true for the sexes: Men are twice as likely as women to be bored by messages about CO2 emissions.

The news comes ahead of a ‘green’ Budget, set for 12th March, expected to deliver a range of proposals to tackle climate change.

Andrew Davis, director at the Environmental Transport Association, said: “It’s understandable that people are getting bored by endless green talk that is never translated into action – increasing public apathy is a real concern for those of us in the environmental movement. The challenge for Alistair Darling in his Budget is to take action that matches his green rhetoric.”

Survey key findings:

• 18 per cent of people are bored by the amount of media coverage about CO2 emissions. A further 12 per cent feel there is simply too much.

• 6 per cent of people are indifferent to media coverage of CO2 emissions, with a further 4 per cent admitting to not fully understanding what CO2 is. Another 4 per cent are not aware of any media coverage on the subject.

• Men are twice as likely as women to be bored by coverage about CO2 emissions (24 per cent and 12 per cent respectively)



For further information and comment, please call the ETA press office on
0845 389 1064

Notes to editors

• All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,060 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 12th – 14th February 2008. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

• It is expected the Budget will include tax incentives to encourage the use of low-emission vehicles and new aviation taxes. The ETA believes that central to any national strategy on climate change must be an across-the-board carbon tax

• The Environmental Transport Association is a not-for-profit ethical breakdown organisation, providing carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport www.eta.co.uk

• The Environmental Transport Association has launched the first car insurance policy which automatically offsets the CO2 produced by a year’s driving.

• The Environmental Transport Association each year produces an online environmental audit of every new car sold in Britain – it is the only car buyer’s guide to take into account car occupant and pedestrian safety as well as fuel efficiency and levels of emissions. It includes a ‘top ten’ and ‘worst ten’ lists – see www.eta.co.uk