A YouGov opinion poll reveals plummeting support for net-zero policies in all age groups, accompanied by a sharp rise in the number of people who think the threat of climate change is exaggerated. Ed Miliband’s fanaticism, Greta Thunberg’s rage and Just Stop Oil’s vandalism are not just failing to persuade us; they are backfiring.
We “lukewarmers”, who have argued for years that the scientific evidence does not justify even the mildest panic about the slowly changing climate, have until recently been shouting into the wind. Exaggerated alarm has been too popular, lucrative and convenient for politicians. Tory, Labour and Lib Dem fell over each other to preach the apocalypse because: first, doom-mongering always goes down well with voters; second, it drew in donations and supplied post-seat-loss career opportunities; and third, it provided the perfect excuse for their own mistakes: fail to build flood defences or prevent moorland fires? Just blame climate change!
But now the public is getting sceptical, all but the greenest politicians will catch on and follow suit. According to the new poll, the number of people who think the threat has been exaggerated has jumped from 16 per cent to 25 per cent in just four years – which makes for a tempting slice of the electorate. Solid and growing majorities now object to restricting our access to gas boilers, petrol or diesel cars, holiday flights and red meat.
A YouGov opinion poll reveals plummeting support for net-zero policies in all age groups, accompanied by a sharp rise in the number of people who think the threat of climate change is exaggerated. Ed Miliband’s fanaticism, Greta Thunberg’s rage and Just Stop Oil’s vandalism are not just failing to persuade us; they are backfiring.
We “lukewarmers”, who have argued for years that the scientific evidence does not justify even the mildest panic about the slowly changing climate, have until recently been shouting into the wind. Exaggerated alarm has been too popular, lucrative and convenient for politicians. Tory, Labour and Lib Dem fell over each other to preach the apocalypse because: first, doom-mongering always goes down well with voters; second, it drew in donations and supplied post-seat-loss career opportunities; and third, it provided the perfect excuse for their own mistakes: fail to build flood defences or prevent moorland fires? Just blame climate change!
But now the public is getting sceptical, all but the greenest politicians will catch on and follow suit. According to the new poll, the number of people who think the threat has been exaggerated has jumped from 16 per cent to 25 per cent in just four years – which makes for a tempting slice of the electorate. Solid and growing majorities now object to restricting our access to gas boilers, petrol or diesel cars, holiday flights and red meat.