A major new survey reveals the biggest shift yet in public perceptions of climate risks and adaptation in the UK.

The results of the survey of over 1400 nationally-representative adults in October 2019 include the fact that climate change was ranked the second most important issue facing the UK – up from 13th place in 2016. Climate concern has doubled in the past four years, with 40% saying they were now ‘very or extremely’ worried. 75% of survey respondents supported using public money now to prepare the UK for climate risks.

But how do we move from concern to action, particularly in the run-up to the UN climate summit? To accompany the survey findings report, Climate Outreach are releasing a guide which highlights the importance of effective public engagement for progress on climate adaptation. It provides seven practical, evidence-based recommendations for communicators and practitioners working to engage the public on climate risks and adaptation.

But the report concludes:

All of this points to an important conclusion: although perceptions of climate risks are moving in the right direction, it is not necessarily the case that public engagement with climate change has yet deepened into something that resonates at the level of people’s core values and identity. There is still plenty of work to do in terms of maintaining and deepening public engagement with climate change.