WIREDGOV

Planet Earth II, local flooding and city air pollution raise awareness but UK public want more action

New research released yesterday from WWF-UK reveals that Sir David Attenborough’s landmark BBC TV series Planet Earth II, high profile flooding across the UK and news coverage of air pollution in major cities are among the key events in 2016 which have made Brits more concerned about protecting the planet.

The UK-wide poll of over 2,000 parents and children highlights how these events are galvanising the public into action on climate change. While 44% of parents say they make a conscious effort to reduce their impact on the environment, around a third of parents (28.9%) report they would like to set a better example to their children.

But the survey also shows that nearly a third of Brits (28.8%) believe climate change needs to be tackled on a Governmental scale.

The findings come a week after temperature data from Nasa and the UK Met Office revealed 2016 is likely to be the warmest year since records began - and are published as WWF’s Earth Hour Heroes competition, which seeks to discover Britain’s unsung environmental champions, in conjunction with People’s Postcode Lottery, enters its final week of nominations.

Worryingly, the survey found that over a quarter (26.5%) of people admitted that no-one inspires them to protect the planet, raising the question around what more we could be doing to take action on climate change.

Colin Butfield, of WWF, said: “Brits clearly want to do their bit to address climate change, but it’s sad to learn that around a quarter of those quizzed don’t feel inspired by anyone to help protect the environment. That’s why we’re running our Earth Hour Heroes competition with People’s Postcode Lottery, to find those inspiring environmental heroes among us across the country, who are doing great things to protect the environment.

“Nominations close on the 31st January, so if you know someone who is doing something great to help protect the planet then please don't hesitate to nominate them.”

The research highlighted that public figures also have a hugely important role in raising awareness amongst the nation with the top ten most inspirational public figures revealed as:

1. Sir David Attenborough, named by exactly 50% of those quizzed
2. Professor Brian Cox (17.7%)
3. Former president Barack Obama (9.8%)
4. Leonardo DiCaprio (9.7%)
5. Jamie Oliver (9.1%)
6. Major Tim Peake (8.7%)
7. Stephen Fry (6.5%)
8. Sting (6%)
9. Ex-US vice president Al Gore (4.2%)
10. Bono (3.6%)

The research commissioned by WWF also reveals:

• Over half the adults questioned (51.2%) believe not enough is being done to tackle climate change
• For mums and dads, the people who inspire them most to protect the planet are ‘my children’, named by over half of parents (57.8%)
• Children say seeing their parents ‘helping someone in distress’ is what they most consider heroic, identified by nearly three out of five (58.8%)
• Youngsters are most likely to say their mum inspires them to do more to protect the planet, followed by dad (58.5% v 40%).

To enter the Earth Hour Heroes competition, visit wwf.org.uk/earthhourhero and describe in 500 words or less why the person deserves the award.  Terms and conditions are available on the site.

Shortlisted entries will be invited to attend an event at London’s Palace of Westminster on Tuesday 28th February, where a winner for each category will receive their award from triple Olympic Gold Medalist, Andy Triggs Hodge OBE. The winners will each receive a £1,000 prize to reward their Earth Hour Hero initiatives.  The competition closes next Tuesday (31st January) at midnight.

To find out more, please visit: wwf.org.uk/earthhourhero

Editor's notes

Research conducted on behalf of WWF by Opinion Matters, January 2017.  Sample: 1,002 parents of children aged 7-16, and 1,002 of their children (aged 7-16); total: 2,004.

For more information contact Mark Southern - mark@polygonpr.com  |  020 3743 7070   

Join in the conversation on Twitter with hashtag #EarthHourUK and @wwf_uk. Find out more about Earth Hour and sign up at wwf.org.uk/2017earthhour.

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, creating solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature thrive.  Find out more about our work, past and present at wwf.org.uk.

Follow WWF-UK on Facebook, Big Cats Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.

About People’s Postcode Lottery

• People’s Postcode Lottery is a charity lottery. Players play with their postcodes to win cash prizes while raising money for charities and good causes across Great Britain and globally
• People’s Postcode Lottery is an External Lottery Manager and manages multiple society lotteries promoted by different causes supporting a range of charities. For details on which society lottery is running each week, visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/society
• Postcode Lottery Limited is regulated by the Gambling Commission under certificate nr 000-000829-N-102511-010 and 000-000829-R-102513-009. Registered office: Titchfield House, 69/85 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4RR
• People’s Postcode Lottery players support the following Trusts – Postcode African Trust, Postcode Animal Trust, Postcode Care Trust, Postcode Children Trust, Postcode Community Trust, Postcode Culture Trust, Postcode Dream Trust, Postcode Earth Trust, Postcode Global Trust, Postcode Green Trust, Postcode Heroes Trust, Postcode Local Trust, Postcode Planet Trust, Postcode Support Trust, People’s Postcode Trust and Postcode Sport Trust. These Trusts are funded entirely by players and support a variety of good causes. For further information on each charity, visit: www.postcodelottery.co.uk/charities
• 55p from every £2 ticket goes to good causes and players have raised £91Million for good causes across the country
• There are five draws a month with prizes every day and each ticket costs £2 – paid monthly in advance by direct debit. For further prize information, visit: www.postcodelottery.co.uk/prizes
• Maximum amount a single ticket can win is 10% of the draw revenue to a maximum of £400,000
• Players can sign up by Direct Debit, credit card or PayPal online at www.postcodelottery.co.uk, or by calling 0808 10-9-8-7-6-5.

About Earth Hour

WWF’s Earth Hour is an annual global celebration where people, communities, organisations and landmarks across the country switch off their lights for one hour to show they care about the future of our planet. This year’s Earth Hour takes place on Saturday 25th March from 8.30pm-9.30pm. It’s a symbolic and spectacular lights out display with a big message – to show support for action on climate change. Since it first began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, the number of countries taking part in Earth Hour has grown to an incredible 178 countries and territories – a number that keeps rising every year! For more information or to sign-up, visit wwf.org.uk/2017earthhour