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| Climate scepticism 'on the rise' | Climate scepticism 'on the rise' |
| (1 day later) | |
| The number of British people who are sceptical about climate change is rising, a poll for BBC News suggests. | The number of British people who are sceptical about climate change is rising, a poll for BBC News suggests. |
| The Populus poll of 1,001 adults found 25% did not think global warming was happening, an increase of 10% since a similar poll was conducted in November. | |
| The percentage of respondents who said climate change was a reality had fallen from 83% in November to 75% this month. | The percentage of respondents who said climate change was a reality had fallen from 83% in November to 75% this month. |
| And only 26% of those asked believed climate change was happening and "now established as largely man-made". | And only 26% of those asked believed climate change was happening and "now established as largely man-made". |
| The findings are based on interviews carried out on 3-4 February. | The findings are based on interviews carried out on 3-4 February. |
| In November 2009, a similar poll by Populus - commissioned by the Times newspaper - showed that 41% agreed that climate change was happening and it was largely the result of human activities. | In November 2009, a similar poll by Populus - commissioned by the Times newspaper - showed that 41% agreed that climate change was happening and it was largely the result of human activities. |
| "It is very unusual indeed to see such a dramatic shift in opinion in such a short period," Populus managing director Michael Simmonds told BBC News. | "It is very unusual indeed to see such a dramatic shift in opinion in such a short period," Populus managing director Michael Simmonds told BBC News. |
| "The British public are sceptical about man's contribution to climate change - and becoming more so," he added. | "The British public are sceptical about man's contribution to climate change - and becoming more so," he added. |
| "More people are now doubters than firm believers." | "More people are now doubters than firm believers." |
| The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (Defra) chief scientific adviser, Professor Bob Watson, called the findings "very disappointing". | The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (Defra) chief scientific adviser, Professor Bob Watson, called the findings "very disappointing". |
| "The fact that there has been a very significant drop in the number of people that believe that we humans are changing the Earth's climate is serious," he told BBC News. | "The fact that there has been a very significant drop in the number of people that believe that we humans are changing the Earth's climate is serious," he told BBC News. |
| "Action is urgently needed," Professor Watson warned. | "Action is urgently needed," Professor Watson warned. |
| "We need the public to understand that climate change is serious so they will change their habits and help us move towards a low carbon economy." | "We need the public to understand that climate change is serious so they will change their habits and help us move towards a low carbon economy." |
| 'Exaggerated risks' | 'Exaggerated risks' |
| Of the 75% of respondents who agreed that climate change was happening, one-in-three people felt that the potential consequences of living in a warming world had been exaggerated, up from one-in-five people in November. | Of the 75% of respondents who agreed that climate change was happening, one-in-three people felt that the potential consequences of living in a warming world had been exaggerated, up from one-in-five people in November. |
| SEE RESULTS IN FULL | SEE RESULTS IN FULL |
| BBC poll on climate change [184KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader | BBC poll on climate change [184KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader |
| Download the reader here | Download the reader here |
| The number of people who felt the risks of climate change had been understated dropped from 38% in November to 25% in the latest poll. | The number of people who felt the risks of climate change had been understated dropped from 38% in November to 25% in the latest poll. |
| During the intervening period between the two polls, there was a series of high profile climate-related stories, some of which made grim reading for climate scientists and policymakers. | During the intervening period between the two polls, there was a series of high profile climate-related stories, some of which made grim reading for climate scientists and policymakers. |
| In November, the contents of emails stolen from a leading climate science unit led to accusations that a number of researchers had manipulated data. | In November, the contents of emails stolen from a leading climate science unit led to accusations that a number of researchers had manipulated data. |
| And in January, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) admitted that it had made a mistake in asserting that Himalayan glaciers could disappear by 2035. | And in January, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) admitted that it had made a mistake in asserting that Himalayan glaciers could disappear by 2035. |
| All of this happened against the backdrop of many parts of the northern hemisphere being gripped by a prolonged period of sub-zero temperatures. | All of this happened against the backdrop of many parts of the northern hemisphere being gripped by a prolonged period of sub-zero temperatures. |
| However, 73% of the people who said that they were aware of the "science flaws" stories stated that the media coverage had not changed their views about the risks of climate change. | However, 73% of the people who said that they were aware of the "science flaws" stories stated that the media coverage had not changed their views about the risks of climate change. |
| "People tend to make judgements over time based on a whole range of different sources," Mr Simmonds explained. | "People tend to make judgements over time based on a whole range of different sources," Mr Simmonds explained. |
| He added that it was very unusual for single events to have a dramatic impact on public opinion. | He added that it was very unusual for single events to have a dramatic impact on public opinion. |
| "Normally, people make their minds up over a longer period and are influenced by all the voices they hear, what they read and what people they know are talking about." | "Normally, people make their minds up over a longer period and are influenced by all the voices they hear, what they read and what people they know are talking about." |