More Australians than ever before are worried about climate change, polling finds

New polling shows Australians are on the same page with climate concerns, dispelling a political divide between Queenslanders and their southern counterparts.

School students take part in a climate change strike in Brisbane.

School students take part in a climate change strike in Brisbane. Source: AP

New polling finds Queenslanders are just as concerned about environmental issues as their southern counterparts, dispelling a political divide as Australians prepare to cast their vote.

The Australia Institute survey found 60 per cent of Victorians and 57 per cent of Queenslanders believe Australia is facing a climate change emergency.

The polling comes after internal struggles within the coalition over federal approvals for the Adani coal mine, with Victorian MPs reportedly concerned about the impact on their vote while their Queensland counterparts said their state strongly supported the project.

The survey found more people in Queensland (56 per cent) than Victoria (51 per cent) support the government mobilising climate efforts, as they mobilised people during world wars.




Just over three in five Australians across all states support a rapid transition to renewable energy, while a similar number support the switch to an electric transport system.

A new poll shows Queenslanders and Victorians agree on climate change, despite Adani mine conflicts.
A new poll shows Queenslanders and Victorians agree on climate change, despite Adani mine conflicts. Source: AAP


"The research tells us Australians understand that solutions like a rapid transition to renewables are ready and available and the only thing holding the country back is political courage," the institute's climate and energy director Richie Merzian said.

"Even coal mining - once a publicly irreproachable industry - is now seen as an industry to stop rather than grow, with more than one in two Australians supporting no new coal mines constructed."

Queenslanders and West Australians are the most concerned about native forest logging, with 77 and 80 per cent respectively wanting it to stop.


A Stop Adani protester
A Stop Adani protester takes to the stage where Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Source: AAP


Greens party founder Bob Brown says the national mood for environmental action will benefit his former colleagues.



"The Greens are quite potentially going to be a turn up at this election because climate change is going to be a - if not the - key issue in voters' minds as they're going up that school path to the ballot box," he told ABC's Radio National.


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