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of an active role for consumers in helping to drive the transformation of the Australianeconomy. The pace of change, it suggests, will be set by the international price of fueland the global and domestic policy response to mitigation of climate change.However, consumers are clearly not bystanders, not only can all economic activityeventually be traced to a fi nal consumer, but as citizens, employees and shareholders, allhave a stake in Australia’s response to climate change.Concerned and active consumers are a national asset inclimate change mitigationOur research highlights the opportunity for Australian consumers to play a stronger rolein delivering on national climate change commitments and the country’s bid to becomean international leader on this issue.The survey reveals that Australians are sending a strong message for business,government and citizens to work together on climate change:» 81% think businesses need to take global warming more seriously(US 59%, UK 68%)» 78% think government should be doing more to tackle global warming(US 62%, UK 69%)» 72% thought companies should give more information to consumers about howproducts contribute to global warming.» 68% agree government should force companies to phase out products thatcontribute to global warming, so that they can make better choices as consumers.(US 45%, UK 58%)» 63% say that they would rather do business with companies that are working toreduce their contribution to global warming than other companies compared with(US 48%, UK 52%)The picture that emerges fromthis research is of a nation ofconscientious but cautiousconsumers who are calling onbusiness and government formore help to make greenerchoices. They are asking for“The most inappropriate response would be to delude ourselves,taking small actions that create an appearance of action, butwhich do not solve the problem. Such an approach would riskthe integrity of our market economy and political processes tono good effect.” —Ross Garnauttimely and appropriate information from businesses, more leadership fromcompanies and government, and recognised and rigorous standards from trustedsources of information.However, it also highlighted the danger that even with clear information, consumerfocused approaches could fail to achieve signifi cant impact and instead lull people intoa ‘culture of distraction’ by only focusing on small changes.Australian consumers are motivated by the realisation that they have a larger and moreimmediate interest in a strong mitigation outcome than consumers in other developedcountries. They increasingly feel themselves to be citizens of their region, facing climate32 What Assures Consumers on Climate Change – Australian Update