Most Australians believe that climate change is a major problem to the planet, but an increasing number of people are sceptics or denialists. The chart shows the responses to the question “Do you agree or disagree with the statement that climate change is a major problem to the planet?” over the four years Connection Research has been asking the question in surveys.
The results indicate the success of the denialist campaign. It is led by News Limited media, many on the conservative side of politics, and populist radio shock jocks. Even media organisations such as Fairfax and the ABC have contributed, by giving equal coverage to loony antiscientists like Christopher Monckton.
Connection Research has commented elsewhere on the psychology and politics of climate change denialism. The debate, which should not be a debate at all, is a classic example of how obfuscation and double-think can drive out science, facts and rationality. The is room in science for scepticism, indeed that is one of the scientific method’s defining characteristics, but the methods being employed by those who refuse to believe the evidence goes way beyond that.
There is some good news. There are still many more “warmists” than denialists. Two thirds of people still agree climate change is a problem, and the number who strongly agree has stopped declining. But that still leaves many denialists – enough to give the semblance of a balanced debate.
