Public doubts increase over climate change |
James Ball, thegrocer.co.uk 08 February 2010 In: Industry news
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Public belief in climate change has fallen dramatically over the last three months in the wake of a high-profile data-faking scandal at the International Panel for Climate Change.
A Populus poll commissioned by the BBC found that only 26% of UK adults believed climate change was happening and established as man-made, down from 41% in November.
The proportion of adults who believed in climate change at all was 75%, down from 83% The mounting scepticism could have serious consequences for supermarket corporate social responsibility programmes. Marks & Spencer's Plan A programme includes many measures aimed at cutting CO2 emissions, while Tesco has pledged to become a zero-carbon business by 2050.
"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. More people are now doubters than firm believers."