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In the battle for hearts and minds, a majority remain concerned about climate change - 30% say they are "very concerned" and a further 47% "fairly concerned" - while a significant minority of almost one in four (23%) are not.
There does, however, remain uncertainty about the science and the potential impacts.  For example, as many as 60% agree that many scientific experts still question if humans are contributing to climate change, a figure largely unchanged from 2007 (56%) and in contrast to the position reached by the IPCC report.  Approaching half (42%) say they sometimes think climate change might not be as bad as people say.

Lack of confidence in the Government
Turning to attitudes towards the role of Government, only around one in three (38%) are confident the Government will take the steps necessary to tackle climate change, compared to 57% who are not.  There is even less confidence in international leaders taking action (36% confident vs. 61% not confident).  This pessimism does not, though, appear to reflect a wider fatalist outlook among the public - only 6% strongly agree it is too late to do anything to tackle climate change, while a further 21% tend to agree.

Government faces a series of challenges to set out its climate change credentials to the public.  On the one hand there is strong support for Government to do more - 68% back this.  However, at the same time the public are cynical about the Government's motivations and a majority (59%) think the Government is using the climate change agenda to raise taxes.  The research also find the public themselves caught in two minds: despite large numbers backing more Government action, two in five (41%) acknowledge that they are worried this might lead to restrictions on the things they want to do.

The economic crunch effect
The current economic pessimism is having an impact on concerns about the environment more broadly.  Parallel data from the Ipsos MORI Political Monitor show concern about the economy rocketing while the environment has flat lined: in the latest figures for April, 33% say the economy is one of the key issues facing the country compared to 7% who cite the environment.

In spite of economic pessimism, the research finds strong support (59%) for investment in renewables in the UK, even if this increases prices for consumers.  Given recent increases and reports of more rises to come, the strength of backing is perhaps surprising and may hint at a broader public desire for greater national self sufficiency on the energy agenda in response to volatile global oil and gas markets.

Public attitudes and behaviour
Turning to individual and societal responses to climate change, the research does not support suggestions of a consumer revolution.  While approaching two thirds (61%) say they personally find the subject of climate change interesting, over three quarters (77%) are pessimistic about the likelihood of others responding - agreeing with the statement "people say they're concerned but at the end of the day they're not prepared to make big sacrifices for the environment."

Only few consider individual action on climate change a "normal" thing in their neighbourhood - just 4% strongly agree it is socially normalised, while a further 31% tentatively agree (35% in total).

Households do not appear convinced of the need for significant changes in behaviour - around one in four (26%) judge their personal responsibility involves small steps like recycling and turning off lights at home but nothing else.  Almost half (47%) accept the need to go further and look at transport patterns and purchasing decisions, but only 13% think this should involve significant and radical lifestyle changes.

Public divide
Finally, the research reveals some differences in opinion within the British public.  Those in social class AB, affluent households, and also those with a university educated/professional qualification background all tend to be more concerned about climate change, back more government intervention and acknowledge a greater need for individual responsibility.

Newspaper readership is also strongly implicated, with broadsheet readers - particularly those who read The Guardian, The Independent and The Times - significantly more likely to cite the environment as a key issue facing the country compared to those who read the mid market and tabloid press.

Phil Downing, Head of Environmental research, said:
"Concern about climate change remains high, many seem genuinely interested in the subject and, on renewables, a majority want more investment even if energy prices rise.  But other findings will make for more difficult reading for the Government in terms of the cynicism around Government intervention and the fact that individual action on climate change is not considered the socially normal thing to do.  The public clearly wants to hear more about the climate science."

"The current mood towards green taxation will possibly be the most concerning to the Government.  Green taxes shouldn't be as unpopular - they're backed by the public in principle and other research shows them considered favourable to income and council tax.  But the public aren't buying it right now and see them as an additional, stealth tax that disappears into a black hole.  They're asking the question: where is the money going?"