Artwork on New Brighton Beach, north-west England, ahead of Cop26 in 2021. UK concern over the environment is at its highest since the UN climate summit, a poll has found. Getty Images
Artwork on New Brighton Beach, north-west England, ahead of Cop26 in 2021. UK concern over the environment is at its highest since the UN climate summit, a poll has found. Getty Images
Artwork on New Brighton Beach, north-west England, ahead of Cop26 in 2021. UK concern over the environment is at its highest since the UN climate summit, a poll has found. Getty Images
Artwork on New Brighton Beach, north-west England, ahead of Cop26 in 2021. UK concern over the environment is at its highest since the UN climate summit, a poll has found. Getty Images

Public concern over climate change doubles, despite UK government's net-zero doubts


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

Concern about climate change has jumped in the UK, despite a “run of negativity” towards net-zero policies, a survey published on Wednesday found.

One in four people in Britain now see the environment as among the most important issues – twice as many as a month ago and the highest level since the 2021 Cop26 summit in Glasgow, according to the poll by market research company Ipsos.

This comes as extreme temperatures, wildfires and ocean warming have made headlines around the world in recent weeks.

The increase in concern is despite Britain’s governing Conservative Party warning that pursuing net-zero policies could damage investment in Britain.

The Tories have sought to draw battle lines for a 2024 general election by expanding North Sea oil and gas drilling and criticising low-emission traffic policies.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has positioned himself as a friend of the motorist, has said Britain is still committed to reaching net zero by 2050, but would do so in a “proportionate and pragmatic way”.

Emma Pinchbeck, the chief executive of Energy UK, the trade association for the energy industry, said ministers should be “out beating the drum” to attract green investment.

She told an event hosted by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, a non-profit organisation conducting research and analysis on energy and climate issues, that politicians “really underestimate how fast money moves” in response to market signals.

“We’ve had a bit of a run of negativity from the UK, some bits of the UK press and bits of the government, about whether net zero is worth it,” she said.

“What industry hears when they hear that is ‘we’re not clear about the long-term investment’.”

She said climate-friendly government messaging was a way to attract investment when ministers cannot simply “throw loads of money at the problem”.

“[If] I was government, I’d be out beating the drum for clean energy technologies and being as positive as I possibly could, because that in itself will often secure investment into your country,” she said.

Concern about the environment now ranks joint third with the National Health Service and behind the economy and inflation, according to the Ipsos survey.

It showed 25 per cent saw the environment as an important issue, up by 13 per cent in a month.

Climate change around the world – in pictures

“News reports about wildfires and extreme temperatures disrupting holidays are a likely cause” of the jump, Mike Clemence, a researcher at Ipsos, said.

“Elsewhere we see a small rise in concern about immigration, with worry strongly centred among Conservative party supporters and older people.

"However, economic issues continue to lead public concern, with worry about the state of the economy rising this month, particularly for Labour party supporters and the middle classes.”

The Labour Party opposition, which leads in the polls, has accused Mr Sunak of failing to invest in renewables, in what Labour leader Keir Starmer called a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

However, the Conservatives seized on a surprise London by-election win last month – widely attributed to an unpopular Labour-backed low emission zone – to court support from people worried about the costs of net zero.

Ministers have also accused Labour of being in league with Just Stop Oil climate activists who have blocked roads and staged a series of provocative stunts.

For its August 2023 Ipsos Issues Index, the company interviewed 1,004 adults between August 2 and August 7.

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  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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While you're here
Global Fungi Facts

• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil

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Rating: 4/5

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The Facility’s Versatility

Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
 
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
 
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
 
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
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March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
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June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Healthy tips to remember

Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:

Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast

Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits

Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day

Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet

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26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

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Where can I submit a sample?

Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.

Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:

  • Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
  • Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
  • Al Towayya in Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
  • Bareen International Hospital
  • NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
  • NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
  • NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
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Updated: August 16, 2023, 10:55 AM`