Climate change attitudes and concerns
State of Sustainability Report 2024
This information is part of our State of Sustainability Report 2024.
Each year we commission research to track how Victorians think, feel and act in relation to sustainability and climate change. Our State of Sustainability Report shows where Victoria is doing well, and how we can support communities to be climate resilient.
Concern for climate change remains high
Climate change is a key issue affecting Victorians in 2024. It ranks fifth among 7 key issues:
- Cost of living
- Housing cost
- Healthcare
- Roads and transport
- Climate change
- The job market/employment
- Education
Most Victorians (67%) are concerned about climate change, with 35% indicating that their concern had increased in the past twelve months.
When questioned about issues of importance, 23% of respondents consider climate change in their top three, with 8% ranking it as their top issue.
Sixteen per cent of regional Victorians rank climate change as a top three issue of importance, compared to 25% in metropolitan Melbourne.
67% of Victorians are concerned about climate change. Lived experience and the impacts of extreme weather are key drivers.
Younger age group shifts focus to cost of living
Concern for climate change is the highest among:
- younger people
- those with higher education
- Melbourne residents.
There is a decrease in climate change priority from 2023, which is largely driven by 16-24-year-olds. Twenty-three per cent of this age group ranked it highly in 2024, down from 30% in 2023.
Cost-of-living pressures are noted as a key reason for this shift, with many respondents acknowledging it has overshadowed their previous climate concerns.
'I used to say “no other issue matters if there is no planet to live on” but the cost-of-living crisis is now so dire, it has taken some of my climate alarm away.'
Rising concern is driven by climate events
Over one-third of Victorians report increased climate concern due to factors like:
- catastrophic climate events
- more evidence of climate impacts
- changing weather patterns
- media coverage.
Victorians tell us what is driving their increased concerns
'I do not think the government is doing enough to cut emissions and to protect the environment and the impacts of climate change are getting worse.'
'My awakening to the urgency of climate change came from witnessing the devastating effects of extreme weather events in my own community. Seeing homes destroyed and lives uprooted by floods and wildfires.'
'Extreme weather events around both Australia and the rest of the world. Extreme temperatures, extreme weather causing massive natural disasters.'
'More media coverage and attention and increased incidence(s) of weather catastrophes around the world together with increased flooding and bushfires in Australia.'
Anticipating personal harm from climate change
More than half of Victorians believe climate change will personally harm them.
This sentiment is felt more strongly among younger cohorts. Twenty-eight per cent of 16-to 24-year-olds and 3% of those aged 75 and over believe they will be personally harmed by climate change.
Already experiencing the effects of extreme weather events
Eighty-three per cent of respondents said they had experienced extreme weather in the past five years such as heatwaves, storms and strong winds or bushfire.
Those who have faced multiple weather events are more likely to express a heightened concern about climate change. Many who face such events report stress, mental health impacts, property damage, and income loss.
Victorians experience of extreme weather events in the past 5 years
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Victorians experience of extreme weather events in the past 5 years:
- 61% experienced heatwaves (over 35 degrees) for 3 or more days.
- 53% experienced storms or strong winds severe enough to damage houses or infrastructure.
- 31% experienced bushfire and/or bushfire smoke at hazardous levels.
- 31% experienced power outages that last more than 24 hours.
- 29% experienced flooding (including river, coastal or flash flooding).
- 21% experienced pest inundation (for example, mouse, grasshopper or other plague).
- 17% experienced drought.
- 12% experienced coastal storm surge or flooding.