Charity sector messaging and action over the impact of human activity on climate change is increasingly backed by the public, a poll is suggesting.

When polled in July 2019 only a quarter (26%) of the public thought climate change was because of human activity.

But when asked in July this year the proportion rocketed to 40%.

The findings suggest that charities looking to limit the impact of industry and other activity on the climate are increasingly being backed by the public.

Charity activity to combat climate change includes ensuring the sector’s investments are ethical and not supporting the fossil fuel industries.

In May a landmark High Court ruling let charities focus on environmental investments even if it means losing out financially by excluding a large part of the market.

Overall, 84% of the public are concerned about climate change, as of July this year, which was the driest in the UK on record and saw temperatures exceed 40 degrees.

A decade ago, the proportion of the public concerned about climate change was just 60%.

More than half of those polled, by Ipsos think the UK should bring all emissions to net zero before 2050.

“These findings show that public concern about climate change is real and widespread but in reality this is nothing new.

“The public have been concerned about climate change for some time and recognise its effects are already with us,” said Ipsos UK director of politics Keiran Pedley.

“It is no surprise then that they want to see urgent action to address it, though some may disagree over the right action to take”.

In September last year a separate survey by NfPResearch found increasing interest among donors in environmental issues. Support for green charities had doubled over the last decade, the research firm found.

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