PESSIMISTIC ON MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

An opinion poll in July found that while New Zealanders accept that climate change is coming, and acknowledge the need to prepare, few believe enough will be done.

The Ipsos poll commissioned by New Zealand’s largest general insurer, IAG, surveyed 1,000 New Zealanders and found that 89 percent think we will see more frequent and extreme storms, 87 percent expect inundation of coastal locations due to sea level rise, 85 percent expect more droughts and 79 percent believe we will see extinctions of plant and animal species.

A statement from IAG says that 84 percent of those polled think that humanity can reduce climate change but 60 percent are unclear whether we will do so and only 10 percent believe that we will take appropriate action.

Some 79 percent believe New Zealand needs to start now, 64 percent believe we need to meet or exceed our international commitments and 78 percent say we should act even if other countries don’t.

And those polled are not shy about thinking around the consequences of climate change. IAG says that 75 percent agree we will need to rethink land use, 75 percent think some people will need to move from where they currently live, and 73 percent agree we will need to support those who are been negatively affected.