Two in five think climate change is 'not man-made'

Published on Saturday 14 November 2009 00:20

ONLY two out of five British voters believe climate change is real and is caused by human activity, according to a poll released today.

About a quarter of those questioned (28 per cent) by pollsters Populus for the Times agreed that climate change was "far and away" the most serious problem facing Britain, while a further 51 per cent said it was a serious problem, but not as serious as other issues.

The findings threaten to undermine Gordon Brown's position at next month's UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, when he will push for international agreement to cut carbon emissions.

His hand in negotiations will be weakened if other countries think that he does not enjoy solid public support at home for his stance. Some 41 per cent of those in the poll agreed that it had been established that climate change was largely due to human activity, while 32 per cent agreed global warming was happening, but said it had not yet been proven to be man-made.

&#149 Populus interviewed 1,504 adults by telephone between 6 and 8 November.