Report by Lynne Jones MP - Summary of Responses of Survey on Climate Change in Moseley – June 2008

SUSMO

As a resident of Birmingham 13, I have signed up to SusMo, a local campaign set up by Moseley Forum which covers an area of 9000 households.  We are looking to make Moseley a more sustainable community both by personal action to cut our household CO2 emissions and through community initiatives, including with local businesses, schools and other public sector organisations and voluntary and faith organisations.

SURVEY ON CLIMATE CHANGE

The survey (appendix 1) was distributed to all electors in B13 within the current Selly Oak constituency boundary.  This document is a summary of responses.  Respondents were divided into three categories dependent upon their wish to register as a supporter of SusMo and whether their responses to survey questions 6, 7 & 8 indicated they were concerned about climate change.

In total, I received 222 completed surveys. 59% of respondents said they wished to register as a supporter of SusMo.  Of those who did not wish to register as a supporter, 79% indicated that they were concerned about the threat from climate change.

CARBON FOOTPRINT PLEDGE

59% of respondents said they would sign the pledge at www.cred-uk.org/susmo to reduce their carbon footprint.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

89% of respondents have made changes to their lifestyles as a result of the threat from climate change.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE

Answers that fell under the general heading of ‘changing transport habits’ were given most frequently.  53% of all respondents said that they had changed their transport habits to help tackle climate change.  For example, people said that they had begun cycling to work or were increasing their use of public transport.

However, the single most frequent response people gave was ‘recycling’.  65 people, or 29% of all respondents, said that they were recycling their household waste in an effort to combat climate change.

For further details please see Appendix 2a and 2b.

OUR CARBON “FOOTPRINT”

I asked people how important they felt it was to a) reduce Moseley’s carbon emissions and b) meet national and international climate change targets.  Respondents were asked to score these questions on a scale of 1 to 10 (in which 10 is most important).

Moseley

80% of respondents felt that reducing Moseley’s carbon emissions is important or very important and only 8% think that it is unimportant or very unimportant.

National & International

89% of respondents felt that meeting national and international climate change targets is important or very important and only 5% think it is unimportant or very unimportant.

It is interesting that 21% more people feel it is very important to meet national and international targets than feel it is very important to reduce carbon emissions on a local level but, of course, what happens in Moseley will have an impact on the national picture.

For further details see appendix 3a & 3b

PEOPLE’S ATTITUDES TO CLIMATE CHANGE

1) Individual responsibility

I asked people to give a score from 1 to 10 depending on how strongly they agreed or disagreed with the statement: I would do more to try to stop climate change if other people did too.

49% of respondents strongly agree or agree  and 26% of respondents strongly disagree or disagree with the statement above.  For further details please see appendix 4.  It is pleasing that such a significant number of people were committed to action to combat climate change irrespective of other people’s actions, though perhaps inevitable that people felt that their actions would have a greater impact if others joined in too, which would encourage them to redouble their efforts.

2) Government responsibilities

I then asked people to give a score from 1 to 10 depending on how strongly they agreed or disagreed with the statement: The Government should take a lead in combating climate change, even if it means using the law/tax system to change people’s behaviour.

A much higher proportion, 57% of respondents, strongly agree and only 7% of respondents strongly disagree with the statement above.  For further details please see appendix 4c.

On average respondents gave a score of 8.1, which corresponds with the opinion, agree (see appendix 4d). This result is backed up by appendix 4c, which shows that in total 81% of respondents agree or strongly agree that the Government should take a lead in the fight against climate change.

TRANSPORT

1) Aviation

Aviation should be made more expensive

•          59% of respondents agree or strongly agree with this statement.

•          20% of respondents disagree or strongly disagree.

•          21% of respondents neither agree nor disagree.

See appendix 5a

I would be willing to pay more for aviation if the money raised was used to provide fast train links

•          67% of respondents agree or strongly agree with this statement.

•          19% of respondents disagree or strongly disagree.

•          14% of respondents neither agree nor disagree.

See appendix 5b

2) Motoring

Motoring should be made more expensive

•          51% of respondents agree or strongly agree with this statement.

•          28% of respondents disagree or strongly disagree.

•          21% of respondents neither agree nor disagree.

See appendix 5c

I would be willing to pay more for motoring if the money raised was used to improve public transport

•          69% of respondents agree or strongly agree with this statement.

•          18% of respondents disagree or strongly disagree.

•          13% of respondents neither agree nor disagree.

See appendix 5d

Average scores

On average people agree with the statement, Aviation should be made more expensive, and agree (slightly more strongly) with the statement, I would be willing to pay more for aviation if the money raised was used to provide fast train links.

On average people neither agree nor disagree with the statement, Motoring should be made more expensive, and agree with the statement, I would be willing to pay more for motoring if the money raised was used to improve public transport.

For further details please see appendix 5e

The results from the survey were obtained before the more recent sharp increases in the global cost of oil, which has seen a 20% reduction in road fuel sales.  People are now paying much more to use their cars and there is greater incentive to opt for more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Government should impose a windfall tax on the energy companies’ inflated profits and spend the extra revenue it has got from taxation on our transport infrastructure

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL

Action people would like Birmingham City Council to take

The action that most people would like to see Birmingham City Council takie to help tackle climate change is to improve public transport.  36% of respondents gave this as their top answer.

18% of respondents said that the most important action would be to improve recycling services, or improve access to recycling services.

*Based on the total number of completed questionnaires received (222), rather than the total number of answers given as respondents often gave more than one suggestion.

For further details please see appendix 6.

Although Birmingham City Council is not directly responsible for public transport they do (though the Cabinet Member for Transportation, representation on Centro, the Passenger Transport Executive and on Regional bodies) exercise considerable influence on transport policy.

Appendices

SURVEY

Appendix 1

Survey on Climate Change

Please circle your Yes/No answers:

1. Did you receive the Sustainable Moseley calendar?  Yes/No
(If no, go to 4)

2. If yes, did you find it useful?  Yes/No

3. If the calendar is produced for 2009 is there any other information you would like to see included?

4. Would you like to register as a supporter of SusMo (to be kept informed of meetings and activities)?  Yes/No

5. Will you sign the pledge to reduce your carbon footprint at:
www.cred-uk.org/susmo ?  Yes/No

6. Have you made any changes in your own lifestyle as a result of the threat from climate change?  Yes/No

7. What is the number one thing you are doing to help tackle climate change?

8. On a scale of 1 to 10 (in which 10 is most important), how important is:
(a) reducing Moseley’s carbon emissions £
(b) meeting national and international climate change targets £

9. On a scale of 1 to 10 (in which 1 is strongly disagree and 10 is strongly agree) how strongly do you agree or disagree that:

(a) I would do more to try to stop climate change if other people did too. £

(b) The Government should take a lead in combating climate change, even if it means using the law/tax system to change people’s behaviour. £

(c) Aviation should be made more expensive. £

(d) Motoring should be made more expensive. £

(e) I would be willing to pay more for aviation if the money raised was used to provide fast train links. £

(f) I would be willing to pay more for motoring if money raised was used to improve public transport. £

10. What is the number one thing you would like Birmingham City Council to do to help tackle climate change?

WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE

Appendix 2a

Appendix 2b

*Respondents often gave more than one answer to this question. For example, people often wrote that they were minimising car use and trying to walk more. Where two answers were given, both are included.

CO2 EMISSIONS

How important is:

(a)     reducing Moseley’s carbon emissions

(b)    meeting national & international climate change targets

Appendix 3a

Appendix 3b

PEOPLE’S ATTITUDES TO CLIMATE CHANGE

1) Individual responsibility:

I would do more to try to stop climate change if other people did too

Appendix 4a

2) Government responsibility:

The Government should take a lead in combating climate change, even if it means using the law/tax system to change people’s behaviour.

Appendix 4b

Appendix 4c - average scores

TRANSPORT

1) Aviation:

Aviation should be made more expensive

Appendix 5a

*Based on the number of people who answered this question, rather than the total number of surveys returned.

I would be willing to pay more for aviation if the money raised was used to provide fast train links

Appendix 5b

2) Motoring

Motoring should be made more expensive

Appendix 5c

I would be willing to pay more for motoring if the money raised was used to improve public transport

Appendix 5d

Average Scores

Appendix 5e

ACTION PEOPLE WOULD LIKE BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE

Appendix 6