Summarised key findings from Ipsos People and Climate Change Report include:

• The proportion of New Zealanders who think that our country should be doing more to tackle climate change has decreased significantly

• New Zealanders’ concern about the impact of climate change on our own country has declined to 69% from 76% in 2022 and 80% in 2023

• Despite the majority recognising that a 1.5c rise in average global temperature is a big deal (58% New Zealand, 53% 32-country average), the perceived importance of climate action is decreasing in both New Zealand and around the world

• Fewer than 1 in 4 (23%) New Zealanders think that the government has a clear plan in place to tackle climate change. However, the majority (62%) of New Zealanders still think that government needs to act now to combat climate change

• On the topic of transitioning to renewable energy, 62% of New Zealanders believe that renewable energy will have a positive impact on air quality (significantly higher than the 32-country average of 54%)

• However, misperceptions and concerns persist: 41% of New Zealanders think that electric cars are as bad as petrol cars for the planet.

Carin Hercock, Country Manager, Ipsos New Zealand, said: “This report gives us some insight as to why New Zealanders still see inflation as the most important issue facing New Zealand. New Zealanders are not making the connection between reductions in the official cash rate to an improvement in living costs. Instead, the majority believe that major household costs like groceries, power and insurance will continue to increase in the next six months.”

Amanda Dudding, Executive Director Public Affairs, Ipsos New Zealand, added: “Much of the uncertainty we are seeing in this report is coming from a belief that unemployment will continue to rise in New Zealand this year, and this sentiment seems to be particularly impacting women, with 54% worried about their own job security. This could be a carry-over from Covid when we saw underutilisation rates disproportionately impacting women.”