Findings of the UK Climate Resilience Programme’s RESIL-RISK project have received comprehensive media coverage in the UK and internationally.
A report, which revealed the biggest shift yet in the British public’s attitude to risks of climate change, was presented on Tuesday at a launch event at the Royal Society in London.
Professor Nick Pidgeon, principal investigator for the project, called the shift in public opinion ‘remarkable’ and said it showed many people were now worried about climate impacts and wanted to see ‘wide-ranging action’ by the government.
A survey of over 1400 people conducted by the researchers from Climate Outreach and Cardiff University in October 2019 found almost a quarter (23%) of respondents said climate change was the most pressing issue facing Britain in the next two decades – second only to Brexit at 25%.
Coverage of the survey’s findings was the lead story on BBC Science & Environment (also front page of the BBC News Website and Wales). It was also the lead story on the environment section of New Scientist (and on New Scientist front page). Other coverage came from: Reuters; Press Association; ITV News; Mail Online; The New European; Evening Standard; Sky News breakfast bulletins; BBC Radio Wales; BBC Wales Breakfast; ITV Wales at Six; Daily Mail; Daily Express; Yahoo News; S4C; Irish Daily Mail; Western Mail; MSN and numerous local radio stations, along with about 200 local newspaper titles.
Globally, the survey was reported by news outlets in Asia, China and the USA, as well as by financial press and rock station Kerrang!
Cardiff University, Climate Outreach, UKRI and the UK Climate Resilience Programme all supported the story with news and social media coverage, while infographics were used across all relevant Research Council Twitter accounts, as well on Instagram. The posts were seen by 30,000 people, 20,000 from the @UKRI_news Twitter account.
UKRI created an interactive Instagram story including a poll for the NERC account, while a video to support the announcement was its most popular tweet of the week. Cardiff University also produced a short video featuring an interview with researcher Dr Katharine Steentjes which had 1.2K views.
Climate Outreach has produced a briefing for UK communicators on Engaging the Public on Climate Risks and Adaptation, and co-investigator Dr Adam Corner followed up the report’s publication with this blog (first published on Climate Home News).
Image: Morpeth Floods (Johndal)