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It is hardly surprising that climate change has become such a high priority issue forAustralians. As one of the driest regions, the country faces the prospect of more intensestorms and tropical cyclones, droughts, destruction of the Great Barrier Reef and parts ofthe east coastline due to rising sea levels and temperatures.Water stress is a collossal challenge. Of the water available for Australians to use,one quarter of the rivers and lakes are already used for household use, industry andagriculture, and one third of underground water is being pumped to the surface andused for the same purposes. The 2006 report “Without Water” from the CSIRO Land andWater, Policy and Economic Research Unit , claimed that without developments such aswater trading, desalination and storm water usage, the price of water in Australia’s largecities could increase between fi ve and ten times.“I am just as concerned about water as climate change, becauseit’s been very much highlighted in the newspapers for quitea long time now. Now and again I think we’re living in thisbig continent that could become so dry it could be quitefrightening for there to be a lack of water.”“Are we doing enough about water shortages? Probably, myselfand a lot of other people think it’s too little, too late. If thesame climatic conditions persist for another five years then ourmain river system may be irretrievable.”Australian consumers are taking actionThe majority of Australians agree that a signifi cant change in lifestyle is neededto prevent global warming. Six out of ten Australians accept this challenge (63%),compared to just over half of US and UK respondents . Opinion is particularly strongamongst young people: 73% of 18-24 year olds, and 68% of 25-34 year olds agree that‘we in this country will have to change our lifestyles signifi cantly if global warming is to bestopped’.Australians are also well informed about what to do to tackle climate change. Only 13%of Australian consumers could not come up with an answer on what consumers likethemselves could do about it. This compares with 24% of respondents in the UK and58% in the US.The vast majority of consumers in Australia say that they have already made some easy,close-to-home changes such as switching off lights, buying energy saving bulbs andother green products. But fewer have translated this into broader purchasing choices, ormore diffi cult behavioural changes.18 What Assures Consumers on Climate Change – Australian Update