WIREDGOV

Four out of five customers would act against a company impacting natural World Heritage Sites such as the Great Barrier Reef.

In a new multi-country survey by WWF, four out of five respondents (81%) said they would take action if they knew a company they bought goods or services from was involved in industrial activities, such as mining, that had impacts within the boundaries of a natural World Heritage Site.

If they knew a company they bought from was having an impact on precious natural sites such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon or the Serengeti, the large majority of customers (81%) said they would either remove or reduce their custom from the company concerned, tell family and friends about that business’ activities, or campaign for them to stop – all posing several risks to businesses.

The survey, part of the #SOSReef WWF campaign to achieve greater protection for one of the best known World Heritage Sites, the Great Barrier Reef, was carried out in 6 countries to explore the public’s attitude to these natural wonders. In the UK, it found that 58 per cent of respondents have a worse opinion of businesses carrying our industrial activities within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Site, and almost as many - 53 per cent – have a worse opinion of the banks and financial institutions that lend to these businesses.

One example of such activity is the well reported dredging of shipping lanes and dumping of spoil on the Great Barrier Reef, which has put this unique site under immense pressure and at great risk.

Chris Gee, WWF-UK #SOSReef Campaign Leader, said:

“This poll shows that the protection of the Outstanding Universal Value of natural World Heritage Sites like the reef is a high priority for consumers. Businesses that are, or might consider, putting precious natural World Heritage at risk should treat this as a serious business risk.

“WWF also note that in the UK part of the results, banks and financial institutions that lend to such businesses are considered almost as liable as those they fund. Banks and financial institutions would be wise to find ways to demonstrate to their customers and investors that they are acting to ensure the protection of our natural World Heritage globally.”

Many businesses work with WWF to discover new ways of working, and the public can support the charity through donations or signing the petition to protect the reef here:
http://www.wwf.org.uk/sosreef

For further information, please contact:

Rebecca Pain, rpain@wwf.org.uk T: +44 (0)1483 412303 | M: +44 (0)7971 149666

Notes to Editors.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 6,134 adults from Korea, Colombia, Poland, Finland, Germany and the UK (including 1,055 in the UK). 

Fieldwork was undertaken between 19th - 20th May 2015. The survey was carried out online. Data have been weighted and are representative of all adults (aged 18+) in each country.

The questions respondents were asked that are referred to in this release were:

Please imagine you were a customer of a company which was involved in industrial activities that had impacts within the boundaries of a natural World Heritage Site. Which, if any, of the following would you be likely to do? 81% said they would do one or more of the following reduce the amount they bought from the company; stop buying from them completely; tell their friends or family not to buy from them; campaign fort them to stop these activities.

To what extent have these plans for expansion of industrial activity around the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Site changed your opinion of the following? Possible answers: Australian government, UNESCO, banks and financial institutions providing funding for industrial activities within the reef natural heritage site, companies involved in industrial activities within the reef natural heritage site. (The answers quoted in the release have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults aged 18+).

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.