THE perception that bush folk are backwards on climate has been challenged by new data that shows country concern over climate change is almost equal to metro areas.
A survey released this morning by the Climate Institute is said to ‘challenge stereotypes’ that people have about rural and regional Australians with 9 in 10 from the bush saying they see the impacts of climate change, while 69 per cent of rural respondents expressed concern.
In capital cities, 74 per cent were worried about the impacts of climate change.
The polling of more than 2000 Australians was completed as part of the Climate Institute’s annual climate attitudinal research, which has been conducted since 2007. This is the first time a breakdown of the Institute’s data - comparing the views of people living in and outside of capital cities – has been available.
When it came to concern about specific impacts, such as worsening bushfires, floods or droughts, a similar number of rural and regional Australians to those living in cities admitted to being worried.
Community Power Agency Director Nicky Ison works with more than 80 community energy groups all around the country.
She said the results might challenge stereotypes that people had about rural and regional Australians.
“I don’t think it matters where you go anymore in Australia,” Ms Ison said.
“People are concerned about climate change because it’s already hurting their communities; whether they are a farmer dealing with dryer and hotter conditions in the Mallee, or a Sydneysider with a coastal property threatened by sea-level rise.”
Australian Wind Alliance’s NSW organiser, Charlie Prell, who runs a 2000-hectare sheep and cattle farm in Crookwell, New South Wales said if anything he would expect concerns about the impacts of climate change to be higher among regional and rural communities.
“Farmers are on the front line when it comes to climate change,” Mr Prell said.
“Climate change predictions are for more floods and bushfires, which hit people working on the land hardest. It affects not only agricultural yields but also important infrastructure, like roads and fencing, as well as food prices.”