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As few as 10% of New Zealanders believe that enough will be done to combat climate change, according to the results of a survey commissioned by IAG.
The insurer surveyed 1,000 people to gauge perceptions of a problem that the Prime Minister has called the “nuclear-free issue of our generation.” The IAG-Ipsos study found that while 89% of New Zealanders think storm severity will increase and 84% believe that humans can actively reduce climate change, only 10% believe that enough action will actually be taken.
According to IAG general manager, corporate relations, Bryce Davies, the response to climate change needs to come from businesses, governments and individuals alike, and it needs to start immediately.
“The statistics show that 84% of New Zealanders think something should be done about climate change, but only 10% believe that we’re going to be successful in doing it,” Davies told Insurance Business. “Within that, there are another 60% that are on the fence – that tells me that there’s a huge latent potential for everyone to get behind this and give this issue the attention it deserves. Insurers in particular have a strong understanding of what the implications of climate change might be for their business, but now they’ve got to get behind their communities and help them adapt.”
Last week saw the launch of the Climate Leaders Coalition, where 60 businesses pledged to reduce emissions and take the helm of New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions economy. Davies said this was a “very important statement,” as these 60 businesses currently account for 48% of the country’s total emissions.
The government has also taken steps to address the issue, and is currently consulting on a Bill that it hopes will be a “cornerstone” of New Zealand’s progression into a climate-resilient future.
“The government has come in with a very clear agenda around what it wants to achieve in relation to climate change, and it’s currently consulting on the Zero Carbon Bill,” Davies said. “But we would also emphasise that while reducing emissions is hugely important, we are still going to experience severe weather events. There’s a level of change that’s already within the system, and we have to turn our minds to how we adapt to and deal with that change.”
“One of the findings of the survey was that we’ll only succeed if we’re all part of the solution,” Davies added. “This means that everyone – insurers, banks, central and local governments and every individual person – needs to respond accordingly."
