More older New Zealanders convinced humans are driving climate change
While more young Kiwis believe in man-made climate change overall, older generations are increasingly becoming convinced it is an issue, new research has revealed. The study, by University of Waikato and University of Auckland researchers, was published in international science journal Nature Communications on Wednesday. It analysed data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Survey, which measures how New Zealanders feel about issues as diverse as climate change , abortion , and trust in institutions , and how views changed over time. The new research sorted more than 56,000 participants into 12 groups based on the year they were born, ranging from 1936 to 1995. READ MORE: * Climate change: Kiwis happy with government action but keen for more * Climate: Explained - Will we be less healthy because of climate change? * Poll: New Zealanders' climate change fears are growing Each year from 2009 to 2018, they were asked about their thoughts on human-driven climate change. Author and Waikato University psychology researcher Taciano Milfont said when the School Strike 4 Climate movement arrived in New Zealand in 2019, it made him curious about whether there was a generation gap in how concerned Kiwis were about climate change. Milfont said they focused on two main beliefs: whether people thought climate change was real, and whether it was anthropogenic (caused by humans). If youd like to learn more about Kiwis attitudes towards climate change from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Survey, check out Stuffs Climate Worriers . Respondents gave an answer from one (strongly disagree) to seven (strongly agree) for each statement. While younger people were more concerned about climate change than older people on average, the research showed people of all ages intensified their belief that climate change was real, and that it was caused by humans, at similar rates. Over the 10-year period, there was a 14 per cent increase in the number of people who believed in climate change overall, and a 17 per cent increase in the number who believed it was human-driven, although more people believed climate change was real to begin with overall. Milfont said he could only speculate as to why attitudes were changing, but he believed it might be to do with people being exposed to more climate science, and a changing discourse in mainstream media . In the past, media would still debate about the reality [of climate change], now its moved on to discussing the impact ... and what we should do about it. The results suggested that climate communication was working, he said. The findings are positive in the sense they indicate people have become increasingly aware of the issue. It doesnt necessarily mean that those concerns will translate into action, but hopefully they do. It gives some hope because to tackle climate change we need collective action across the generations. Milfont said one thing was clear: New Zealanders cared. Were not the first to show people are really concerned about it, [but] our studies provide another piece of evidence. They show the majority of New Zealanders do believe in climate change, and that its anthropogenic, which gives the Government a mandate for more urgent action .