Public Not Confident That International Leaders Can Reach Climate Deal

As the World's leaders head into a final week of negotiations in Bali to discuss the framework for international efforts to address climate change, new research by Ipsos MORI reveals that around six in ten (61%) of the British public lack confidence in the ability of international leaders to address the problem.

40% say they are "not very confident", and a further one in five (21%) are "not at all confident". In contrast, only 3% are "very confident" and a further 33% "fairly confident".

Confidence in the ability of the British Government to act is higher, although a clear divide remains — 49% are confident compared to 48% who are not.

Phil Downing, Head of Environmental Research at Ipsos MORI, says "Public confidence in the Government's ability to take the actions required to address climate change has increased of late, in response to policy landmarks such as the Stern Review, the Climate Change Bill and the recent attention given to the environmental agenda by the three main parties. However, this is not true of confidence in the ability of international leaders to come together and agree an effective climate change deal to succeed the Kyoto Protocol".