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Executive SummaryAustralians have high per-capitagreenhouse emissions, but a strongcommitment to averting climatechange. The impacts of climate changeare increasingly visible to Australians,in this water stressed country. Climatechange therefore became a high profi leissue in the most recent elections, andthe country is now seeking to become aleader in addressing climate change.“There are many organisations who are doing theright thing for the planet. Nevertheless, someorganisations try to profit from their greenclaims. Organisations can make whatever claimin the market place, but consumers will remainsceptical. Consumers want honest businesspractices and they need to be able to see theevidence behind these green claims. We need towork together to stop ‘green washing’ activities.”—Richard Gunawan, LRQA AustraliaAustralians are committed to tackling climate change…1. Consumer action could be a crucial asset in Australia’s efforts to tackle climatechange. The country’s natural endowments and highly developed technical, fi nancialand institutional capacity are seen as key strengths in enabling the country toachieve low-carbon competitiveness.. Harnessing consumer action is not prominentas part of the country’s strategy.2. This research shows that most Australian consumers demand a stronger role indelivering on climate action. They want to actively support the country’s bid tobecome an international leader on this issue.3. Climate change is an important consumer issue - even more so than in othercountries. The majority of Australians recognize that a signifi cant change in theirlifestyles is needed. Six out of ten accept this challenge, compared to just over halfof US and UK consumers. Opinion is particularly strong amongst young people.4. Australians are also well informed about how to tackle climate change. The vastmajority of Australians have already made some easy, close-to-home changes suchas switching off lights, installing energy saving bulbs and buying green products.Only 13% could not come up with an answer on what people like themselves coulddo about it. This compares with 24% of respondents in the UK and 58% in the US.…but can’t or won’t go much further until business and government treat themas grown ups7. Despite this concern and action, there remains a big gap between what peoplesay, and what they will do. Most consumers have yet to embed the low carbonapproach into their purchasing choices, let alone embrace more diffi cult lifestylechanges. Consumers are confused about how far they should go. Half say they areunable to judge how environmentally friendly their lifestyle is and nearly four in fi veare sceptical about business and government claims on climate change.8. Consumers report practical and financial obstacles to making lower-carbonchoices. Expense and lack of information are the two major reasons cited. Otherbarriers to change are embedded in infrastructure and culture: namely low densitysuburban housing, lack of public transport, and the traditional meat-based diet.What Assures Consumers on Climate Change – Australian Update 3