Almost a quarter of Australians say they have modified their homes in the last six years to protect themselves from extreme weather events, according to a report released today by Charles Sturt University.
Homeowners most exposed to extreme events are much more likely to modify their homes to protect them from climate change.
These are some of the results in the third research paper of a series reporting on a new public opinion survey exploring what Australians think about life on a warmer planet, and how to prepare for it. Commissioned by me and carried out by Roy Morgan Research, the survey sampled the views of almost 2,000 adults, chosen to be representative of the Australian population.
A partisan split in home improvements is one of the more interesting results to emerge. Conservative voters are substantially less likely to protect their homes from extreme weather events than progressive voters. Among Liberal Party voters, 17% have taken measures to protect their homes, with National Party voters at 14%. These compare with 31% of Greens voters and 24% of Labor. Independents are a little higher at 28%.
The political divide in part reflects differences in levels of concern about climate change. While 13% of those not at all concerned about climate change have modified their homes, 31% of those ‘extremely concerned’ have taken measures. In a result consistent with US studies, those who deny the science of climate change or believe it is exaggerated are less inclined to protect themselves.
Over time, such divergent attitudes and practices could deepen cultural polarization, as the built environment itself starts to reflect political fault lines.
The Climate Change Authority has reported that that 652,000 properties are currently at risk of damage from extreme weather events and have inadequate or no insurance cover. Homeowners living on the front line of extreme weather are being forced to allocate more resources to repairs, retrofits, and insurance premiums.
The survey also reveals that:
- A third of Australians say they have been directly affected by floods since 2019, with the number affected by bushfires slightly lower.
- Home modifications have been made to protect mainly against storms with strong winds and the effects of heatwaves.
- Popular measures include sealing gaps in doors and windows, installing pumps, fitting awnings, and upgrading insulation.
For some homeowners, high awareness about a more hazardous climate future is motivating investment in home protection while neighbours carry on as normal. The phenomenon may reflect a broader cultural shift, with some households increasingly likely to treat their dwellings as a personal ‘climate bunker.’
Research Paper 3 may be accessed here:
https://www.csu.edu.au/research/climate-adaptation-survey/research/research-papers
A detailed Technical Report on the survey sampling and methodology may be found at the same site.
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