An overwhelming number of New Zealanders (91%) expected more extreme flooding events happen more often as the world struggles with the growing list of consequences as a result of climate change.
About half of respondents (48%) of the latest IAG-Ipsos poll on climate change published Monday said Government had the greatest responsibility to act on climate changeup from 25% five years ago, but the national response was either not appropriate or hadn’t been quick enough.
Climate Change Secretary James Shaw said the results highlight the urgent need for a extensive response to the phenomenonwith only 34% of Kiwis viewing the government’s action on this matter as adequate.
N/A/Things
More New Zealanders expect to see extreme flooding more often, the results of the IAG poll show.
“We need to equip communities with the tools they need to play for the future and for the climate impacts we know we can’t avoid. Some climate impacts are already being experienced by communities across the country,” Shaw said.
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There was also a clear expectation that both central and local governments were expected to do more to protect people by investing more in things like flood protection measures and building infrastructure.
ROBERT KITCHEN/Things
About half of New Zealanders believe the government has the greatest responsibility to act on climate change, a new poll shows. (File photo)
Over the past four years, the poll results have shown a 10% growth in those who want municipalities to zoning land to reduce and prevent the impact of climate change (now 74%) and consent developments that have the same goal reached (69%), Amanda Whiting, said chief executive for insurance companies, NZI, State and AMI.
“A growing number of people – up to 53% this year – recognize that those living in hard-hit areas may need to move, but there are mixed views on who should pay, and the results point to shared responsibility between [the] Government, local councils and homeowners,” Whiting said.
Given the recent spate of fires, floods and heat wave events worldwide, climate scientist Professor James Renwick of the Victoria University of Wellington was not surprised to see a large increase in the number of New Zealanders acknowledging the impact of climate change.
“But beyond the concerns, there is a lot of confusion and there is a need for education and clear messages about actions we can all take,” Renwick said.
However, fewer New Zealanders took individual action to counter the effects of climate change, although 78 percent of people agreed it was an important issue for them personally.
In the past year, the number of people who were willing to take action to personally mitigate the impacts of climate change on themselves fell from 69% to 64%, reflecting a steady decline seen in those already taking steps to reduce the impact of climate change. impacts of climate change – a decrease of 9% over recent years. up to 50% in the past two years.