Australians, Climate Action and the Great Barrier Reef

Abstract

Since 2021, Griffith University has conducted its annual National Climate Action Survey (NCAS) to assess Australian adults’ understandings, feelings and responses to climate change and related environmental issues. The survey has a total yearly sample size of approximately 4,000 participants, some repeat respondents some new. In 2023 and 2024 in collaboration with the Reef Authority and in consultation with the CSIRO Social and Economic Long-Term Program (SELTMP) team, a set of Great Barrier Ref (the Reef) specific questions were included in the surveys. The National Climate Action Survey is the first representative nationwide survey asking about experiences with the Reef, emotions about climate change related damage to the Reef, and other threats to the Reef. The specific analysis results include: (i) Nationally representative responses about the Reef, comparing catchment resident responses, with rest of Queensland responses and with rest of Australia outside of Queensland responses; (ii) National population segmentation of subgroups in relation to Reef matters: Reef connected (strong environmental attitudes, greatest willingness to take action, high sense of responsibility), Reef aware (moderate environmental concern, lack motivation to act, most pessimistic about the Reef’s future), Reef ambivalent (least concern, least willing to take action); (iii) See the Reef, Love the Reef, Protect the Reef – empirical testing and mode.