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Our Climate Barometer Twin Tracker data suggests a gender divide in MP’s opinions about the costs of climate impacts.
When asked about the cost of tackling climate change, the majority of female MPs agreed “It will cost too much not to tackle climate change now and we should be prioritising it while we can still avoid the worst impacts”.
Less than half of male MPs chose this option in both years they were asked, with notably more male than female MPs saying “It will cost too much to tackle climate change now and we should be prioritising other things at a time when consumers can least afford it”.
These results mirror wider trends in public surveys, which tend to show women hold heightened risk perceptions on a range of issues relative to men’s reduced concerns about different threats.
Commentary & Analysis
13th August 2026
A substantial majority endorse the idea that the biggest polluters and risk creators should contribute more to the costs of climate impacts.
A new research output by Climate Outreach shows that support for adaptation action significantly increases when people are shown tangible solutions, such as heat-proofing our homes and restoring natural flood defences.
The piece – based on a survey of 7,000 people across Britain (carried out in 2025) and in-depth focus groups across the UK (done in 2026) found that:The findings echo Climate Barometer tracker data which shows that adaptation and mitigation are supported equally, as well as past research by Climate Outreach/Cardiff University showing that the public see these broad responses as ‘two sides of the same coin’.
No more polling in a vacuum: how opinion data can support people working on the frontline of climate change
Our Researcher Luisa Melloh explores how our recent partnership with Flooded People UK supported community organisations in engaging people on climate, flooding, and impacts more broadly.