Concern about climate change increasing in Hunter: poll

SOME 30 percent of Hunter locals are more concerned about climate change than they were a year ago, a new poll has revealed.

The polling of 302 Hunter residents, completed on 20 March, was part of a broader poll of 1,965 residents across key renewable energy zones.

Renew Australia for All commissioned research firm 89 Degrees East to investigate public support for Australia’s shift to renewable energy across select Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

The poll measured sentiment towards the shift to renewable energy as well as perception of that support in key REZs.

Highlighting the results is Farmers for Climate Action (FCA) CEO Verity Morgan-Schmidt, who said they showed growing concern around climate change.

“Thirty percent of those polled in the Hunter have become more concerned about climate change in the past 12 months,” she said.

“Bushfires (77 percent), heatwaves (75 percent) and floods (68 percent) were the top answers when Hunter residents were asked what had made them more concerned about climate change.”

According to the polling, 56 percent of Hunter residents blame energy company profiteering as the key reason for high energy bills.

“Others named global energy price spikes and coal power station breakdowns; just 15 percent said clean energy was responsible,” Ms Morgan-Schmidt said.

“Some 69 percent of Hunter residents name solar as the ‘significant’ energy source for the future, while 43 percent nominate onshore wind, 42 percent say offshore wind, 40 percent pumped hydro, with gas and coal equal at 30 percent, and nuclear last at 22 percent.”

Ms Morgan-Schmid said the data shows a striking gap between real and perceived support for clean energy.

“Support for clean energy in the Hunter remains strong at 60 percent, with 17 percent opposed, and 23 percent neither supporting nor opposing,” she said.

“Yet, only 40 percent of those polled said they thought there was majority support for clean energy in the region.”

Support for renewable energy projects is often seen as mixed in agricultural communities, but one Gloucester farmer says that energy sustainability is “just good farm management”.

“As a farmer in the region, our focus is simply on running a more efficient and resilient business,” said Macka’s Pastoral Director Robert Mackenzie.

“We’re improving soil health, animal performance and energy use, with a clear focus on reducing our footprint, delivering benefits for both the business and the environment.”