Almost 80% of Australians now believe in climate change
Australians overwhelmingly believe in climate change, according to a new poll, and they are more than ready for the government to do something about it.
According to The Climate Institute's 2016 Climate of the Nation report, 77 percent of Australians believe climate change is happening. That number has grown year on year in the annual report since 2012, when only 64 percent believed in the phenomenon. Of this group, 90 percent feel human activity is at least partly the cause.
The report, released Monday, also indicates the majority of Australians trust the science that suggests human activity is to blame for climate change.
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People are worried about food security, the Great Barrier Reef and more bushfires.
Interestingly, city and rural populations are more aligned on the issue than might be expected. According to the poll, 62 percent of city dwellers trust the science of human-caused climate change, compared to 57 percent of those in rural areas.
Australians also want the federal government to do something about it, and now. Ninety percent think the government is responsible for tackling the issue. They're not handing out medals for its performance so far -- only 19 percent of respondents think federal politicians are doing a decent job.
"The sense of urgency has been dampened by frustration with political squabbling, scare campaigns and setbacks," The Climate Institute CEO John Connor said in a statement. "Despite this, there is a strong expectation for leadership and action on climate change, a transition to renewable energy and the phasing out of coal."
Australians are also coming to grips with some of the potentially devastating impacts of climate change. Respondents were most worried about the impact of droughts and floods on food security, the fate of the Great Barrier Reef and more bushfires.
The report polled a representative sample of 2,015 people over the age of 18 in an online survey.
The Climate Institute's poll comes just after the Earth experienced its hottest August ever recorded. As Mashable reported, that means we have experienced a record warm monthly temperature during every month for the previous 16 consecutive months.
Perhaps that's why the number of Australians who believe in climate change continues to grow. They're living it.
Ariel Bogle was an associate editor with Mashable in Australia covering technology. Previously, Ariel was associate editor at Future Tense in Washington DC, an editorial initiative between Slate and New America.
