Londoners' views on climate change in 2023

Figures walking cycling cartwheeling

London Councils is now in the fourth year of polling Londoners views on climate change and its impacts. By undertaking this survey annually, we can build our understanding and identify trends in opinions on the issue. 

Top findings

Top findings from polling by London Councils in September 2023 show:

  • 90% of Londoners are motivated to help prevent climate change, with high motivation across all age groups 
  • 84% of Londoners say they are concerned about climate change
  • 73% of Londoners think the cost-of-living crisis has made it more difficult to take action 
  • 68% of Londoners say their level of concern has increased over the past 12 months 
  • Slightly more people (29%) now think that their local council has a role in tackling climate change than when we started the polling in 2020 (24%)

Making sustainable choices 

The survey has highlighted that Londoners are already undertaking sustainable choices, such as commuting by public transport and recycling old clothes and electronics, with 65% of Londoners saying that climate change affects their day-to-day decision making.

For example, 33% of Londoners say they have taken action to insulate their home, and 25% have switched to a renewable tariff. Unsurprisingly, cost is a key barrier to action in many areas, including in buying an electric vehicle, installing solar panels and heat pumps, and insulating homes. Preference is also a key issue in things like not reducing meat intake, walking and cycling more, using public transport, and buying second hand clothes.

You can find full breakdowns for how many Londoners are currently taking sustainable choices across food, transport, energy/heating and consumer choices, alongside barriers to action, in the report below.  

Working in partnership

Is it vital that we work in partnership to transform London into a city that is greener, more equal, healthy and sustainable for all of London’s diverse communities. London boroughs are leading the way in ensuring climate action is taking place in local communities, helping to bring about a greener, cleaner, healthier London from the ground up. We know that investment in climate action helps drive down people’s bills, improves the country’s energy security, and benefits the growth of the economy through green businesses and jobs. 

#BeTheSolution

Download the full 2023 report (PDF)

Read our press release 

This study was conducted by Kantar in London via OnLineBus, an Internet omnibus survey. A sample of 1001 London adults aged 16+ were interviewed. The sample has been weighted to represent the adult population of London 16+

 

Read the full report on our 2021 polling (PDF)

Read the highlights of our 2021 polling (PDF)

Read our press release about the 2021 polling

Notes on the 2021 research

1. This study was conducted in London via LondonBus, an Internet omnibus survey run by Research Express which is part of Kantar UK Ltd.

SAMPLE SIZE – a sample of 1,011 London adults 16+ were interviewed.

INTERVIEWING – Interviewing was conducted by online self-completion from 2nd to 7th September 2021.

WEIGHTING – The sample has been weighted to represent the adult population of London 16+.

LOW BASES – Where unweighted base figures are less than 100, data should be treated cautiously, as large margins of error are possible.