Survey gauges local attitude to climate change

QUEENSCLIFFE Climate Action Group has released results to a survey gauging the community’s attitude towards climate change.

The easing of lockdown restrictions has allowed the group to recommence working with the Borough of Queenscliffe on the Climate Emergency Response Plan.

The Borough of Queenscliffe declared a climate emergency in December 2019 and later allocated $40,000 to develop a response plan.

Queenscliffe Climate Action Group’s Kitty Walker said they were pleased to be working on the plan once more.

“Dealing with the impacts of the climate crisis on our local community is back on the agenda, and this work will continue to gain momentum as soon as the Borough appoints a facilitator.

“In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with the Borough by sharing the full results of a community survey, and re-engaging with the community.”

The survey was completed by 269 people, 84 per cent of who were residents in the Borough of Queenscliffe. The survey revealed 94 per cent of respondents are either “quite” or “very” concerned about climate change.

The most commonly cited reasons for these worries were concerns about future generations; more frequent and extreme weather events; and extinction of wildlife and natural habitat.

Almost 80 per cent of said they want to incentivise renewable energy for the community and would not mind having renewable energy infrastructure, such as solar panels, in the local area.

Ms Walker said the community’s response was encouraging.

“Respondents have generously shared their insight and passion on how climate change has affected them and their environment, and also suggested ways to address it locally.”