UK politicians see less public opposition to climate policy
A study of 100 sitting MPs reveals a gap on perceptions on environmental issues of those in politics and public attitudes.
MPs from the UK’s three biggest political parties significantly overestimate levels of public resistance to major policy proposals for tackling climate change, according to a University of Cambridge study.
Researchers say it may be the first data-led evidence for a ‘spiral of silence’ in Westminster.
‘Our study found a systematic pessimism about the public appetite for climate action among the UK’s most influential decision-makers.’ Lisa-Maria Tanase, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Cambridge’s El-Erian Institute of Behavioural Economics and Policy.
The surveying of sitting MPs took place during December 2024 and January 2025. The public polling benchmark was a nationally representative survey of 4,201 UK adults conducted by Ipsos UK between 18 and 24 April 2024.
The polling asked people about the specific policies outlined in the study, such as the home insulation policy and green product tax.
