Tracker data: Mandate for more government action on climate stays strong

Policies proposed to address climate change are varied in scope. Our latest Climate Barometer tracker looks at whether many of these policies are seen by the public as ‘climate policies’ or whether they are believed to be targeting other issues.

Some policies are seen as primarily addressing climate change:

• Phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035 (60%), with 25% also saying this is aimed at improving health and wellbeing
• Expanding renewable energy generation in the UK (58%), but also seen as lowering household bills and costs (38%), and encouraging economic growth and creating jobs (29%)
• Ultra low emissions zones (57%), which are also seen as aiming to improve health and wellbeing (45%)
• A tax on frequent fliers is primarily seen as a climate policy (45%)
• Community control and benefit from their own renewable energy (41%), but also a measure for lowering household bills and encouraging jobs and growth (35%)

Many policies that involve improving the natural environment are seen as ‘protecting nature’ rather than tackling or responding/adapting to climate change:

• Restoring habitats and planting more trees is seen by most as protecting nature and wildlife (79%)
• Investment in green and blue spaces is seen as a measure to protect nature and wildlife (68%)
• Cleaning up oceans and rivers is seen as a measure to protect nature and wildlife (76)%

Other urban infrastructure and design policies tend also to be seen as primarily addressing other issues:

• Insulating homes is seen primarily as a measure to lower bills and costs (68%)
• 15 minute neighbourhoods is seen by most as a measure to improve health and wellbeing (56%)
• Investing in public transport is seen as mainly encouraging growth and jobs (40%)

And policies aiming to target the wealthy/ polluting groups are also less likely to be seen as outright climate policies

• A windfall tax on energy company and oil & gas profits is mainly seen as a measure to lower household bills and costs (37%), with 33% saying it is a climate policy
• A tax on the ultra rich is primarily seen as a measure to tackle inequality (51%)

Policies often have multiple aims and goals, and whether policies are seen as ‘climate’ policies is not a problem in and of itself. In many cases, a climate policy being seen as a cost of living or nature protection measure may mean a wider section of society see its benefits. Crucially, it is important to be aware of how various policies are being ‘read’ by the public, and whether or not the aims of the policy are being understood.

‘Net zero’ has made national headlines in September, with an Energy Security and Net Zero committee report recommending that the government stop talking about net zero, to Prime Minister Andy Burnham reaffirming the policy, a few hours later, explicitly stating the need for the UK to reach net zero by 2050.

Our latest data shows that holding steady is the right move, with net zero still receiving majority support among the public and MPs, and even trending upward slightly.

While it is clear that ‘net zero’ is not the most compelling communications phrase, it is also apparent that the public understand and are willing to support it, especially when linked back to  its purpose, to address climate change. Rather than ditching the term, our work suggests that talking about the government’s net zero target is best done when connected to compelling reasons ‘why’, and clear explanations for ‘how’ it can be achieved.