Wildlife tops Britons' list of climate concerns

Survey shows nearly four in five Britons concerned by climate change impact on nature

By Richard Black

info@eciu.net

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Kittiwakes are among the seabirds affected by a changing climate and hence food supplies. Image: Martha de Jong Lantink, Creative Commons licence
Kittiwakes are among the seabirds affected by a changing climate and hence food supplies. Image: Martha de Jong Lantink, Creative Commons licence

Impacts on British wildlife top the list of Britons' climate change concerns, a survey shows.

The survey, commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) from pollsters ComRes, found that 79% of Britons are worried about climate impacts on UK wildlife, making it a greater concern than flooding, heat waves, or increased variability and prices of food.

"It’s quite a surprising finding, because you’d think people would be more concerned about potential impacts to their homes, their larders and their wallets," said Richard Black, ECIU Director.

"Instead it shows that Britain’s long-standing love affair with birds, flowers and animals shows no signs of abating, and that recent studies demonstrating climate change impacts on animals such as puffins, bumblebees and frogs have raised the alarm."

By contrast, 72% of Britons were concerned about the projected increase in flooding, 60% by the possible increased variation in availability and price of some foods, and 50% by the projected increase in heatwaves.

This poll reinforces findings from a survey conducted last year by the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI).

Climate change has emerged as the biggest threat to UK bumblebees. Image: Benjamin Watson, Creative Commons licence
Climate change has emerged as the biggest threat to UK bumblebees. Image: Benjamin Watson, Creative Commons licence

"WI members have a long history of environmental action since speaking out on the threats to our seas from pollution in 1927, and recent campaigns include calls to protect wildlife and the countryside, and to increase funding into honeybee research," said Marylyn Haines Evans, NFWI Vice Chair and Chair of NFWI Public Affairs.

"Climate change and its impact on future generations are real and growing concerns for members with 56% most concerned about loss of UK wildlife, for example the ongoing threat to birds and bees, and 83% agreeing that world leaders must urgently agree a deal to tackle climate change."

The survey findings were release in conjunction with a report from the RSPB outlining the risks to British wildlife from climate change.

The report, The Nature of Climate Change, shows that some of Europe's best-loved wildlife is already at risk from a changing climate and that the risk will increase over coming decades. In particular:

  • One third of Europe's bumblebee species could lose 80% of their current range by 2100
  • In the North Sea, climate change is altering plankton communities. The incoming plankton species are less suitable than those they replace as food for sand-eels - a small fish that is in turn the main food source for kittiwakes and other seabirds. Climate change is therefore a factor in the 70% decline in kittiwake populations in the UK in recent decades.
  • Since 1900, at least 120 species have colonised Britain due to a warming climate. Small red-eyed damselflies, first recorded in 1999, are spreading through the country. Conversely, there are signs that species ranges might be starting to retract north at their southern edges. Wildlife may be forced to move into areas where there is no suitable habitat
  • Extreme weather events, which can harm wildlife, have already become more frequent and intense due to climate change. Wet and windy springs can cause mass deaths of shags; the UK supports 45% of the world's breeding population of this cormorant-like seabird.

"The report has a clear message that the world's governments need to act on fast, to limit climate change," said Martin Harper, RSPB's Director of Conservation.

"They've no better opportunity to do this than the upcoming UN climate negotiations in Paris. Countries such as the UK also need to make sure they're making every possible effort to back up international ambition with action back home, in part by supporting the transition to a low carbon energy system."

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