Public significance of local weather change and the surroundings doubles to turn out to be the joint-third largest concern going through the nation

The August 2023 Ipsos Points Index reveals a pointy leap in public concern about local weather change, though inflation and the economic system stay crucial points going through the nation.

Amid information headlines about excessive temperatures and wildfires skilled throughout Europe and the world, the proportion of Britons who say they’re involved about local weather change and the surroundings has risen 13 factors since final month, and stands on the highest stage for the reason that COP26 convention in Glasgow in November 2021. It’s talked about by 1 / 4 (25%) of Britons rating it alongside the NHS, which itself has seen a drop of eight proportion factors since July.

The economic system and inflation stay the largest points. Thirty-seven per cent of Britons point out every as large points for the nation. Concern about inflation is an identical stage to that recorded in July and has remained crucial concern for six consecutive months. The proportion mentioning the economic system has risen by seven proportion factors since final month, with virtually 1 / 4 (23%) seeing it as the only most essential nationwide concern.

Nearly 1 / 4 (23%) cite immigration as some of the essential points going through Britain, up two factors from final month. The extent of public concern is now on the highest stage recorded since November 2017. Important variations in concern stay, with Conservative occasion supporters (36%) and people aged over 65 (30%) extra seemingly point out it as a problem than Labour supporters (11%) and people aged 18-34 (14%).

For the primary time since December 2019, the proportion of individuals mentioning infectious illness or COVID-19 has fallen to lower than half of 1 per cent. This makes it the thirty fourth largest concern for the nation this month.

Mike Clemence, a researcher at Ipsos, mentioned: “Local weather change and the surroundings has risen to turn out to be seen because the joint-third largest concern going through the nation this month, and information studies about wildfires and excessive temperatures disrupting holidays are a possible trigger.

Elsewhere we see a small rise in concern about immigration, with fear strongly centred amongst Conservative occasion supporters and older individuals.

Nonetheless, financial points proceed to guide public concern, with fear in regards to the state of the economic system rising this month, notably for Labour occasion supporters and the center courses.”