Brits top the class on green IQ test

Brits know more about climate change than their European counterparts according to new research launched today (Monday 19 October) to mark the beginning of Energy Saving Week (19-25 October).

A survey of 6000 adults and children across four European countries shows that Brits know more about climate change than the French, Germans and Spanish.

When asked a series of six true or false questions as part of a Climate Change IQ test - on subjects ranging from the causes to the effects of climate change - more than two thirds of Brits (68 per cent) answered their questions correctly, a higher proportion than their European neighbours.

But while British adults may know more about climate change, their kids lag behind those of other European countries when it comes to green actions.

British kids were the top of the four countries for admitting to a number of energy wasting acts, coming top for wasting energy in general (36 per cent), leaving the lights on when they leave a room (44 per cent), and four in 10 (40 per cent) owning up to using the most electrical gadgets of any family member.

To help the British public learn how to put their knowledge in to practice, the Energy Saving Trust has launched a series of nine free day-long ‘Climate Change Academies' throughout England, which kick off during Energy Saving Week.

The Energy Saving Trust is already working with 50 families across UK, who have allowed their kids to go "undercover" and report on their families' everyday fight against climate change. The results will be unveiled during Energy Saving Week.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock MP said: "I'm not surprised British people know more about climate change because we are leading the world in cutting carbon emissions to prevent global warming. This effort puts the UK in a strong position ahead of the Copenhagen summit negotiations in December.

"With climate change on the national curriculum, British children will get a better understanding as to why it's important to switch off lights and computers when they're not in use. Considering around 40 per cent of carbon pollution is a result of personal choices, there is huge potential for everyone to start bucking the trend. Energy Saving Week is a great place to start."

Energy Saving Trust chief executive Philip Sellwood is calling for Brits to continue taking green issues seriously by putting their knowledge in to practice. He said: "Our research clearly shows the British public has the knowledge, however they don't seem to act on it. As a nation we need to put theory in to practice.

"Even though our kids are the most wasteful in the home we have managed to enlist the help of 50 ‘undercover reporters' across the UK eager to buck that trend. They have captured their families' wasteful ways on camera over the past couple of weeks, unveiling just how much energy is wasted and how easy it is to change habits and make a difference."

The research also found that British Dads were the most knowledgeable about climate change of any family member (74 per cent) while more than three quarters (77 per cent) of British Mums confessed they provide the pester power in their family on ‘being' green. British kids honestly pointed the finger at themselves as being the most wasteful in the home (39 per cent) compared to other family members in the UK.

Sellwood concludes: "When it comes to combating climate change, everyone can do their bit. So people should listen to mum nagging, tell the kids to get out of the shower and get dad to switch off the TV! It is time for everyone across the UK to think green, act green and be green."

Energy Saving Week - now in its thirteenth year - is designed to promote energy saving action among householders through a concentrated programme of events across the UK, via a range of partner organisations and the Energy Saving Trust's network of regional advice centres.

To find out what can be done during Energy Saving Week, people should call their local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512012 for free impartial advice.

The research was commissioned by the Energy Saving Trust - the UK's leading organisation set up to help people fight climate change - and undertaken by pollsters ICM Research. One-thousand-five-hundred adults and 1500 children throughout the UK and 500 adults and 500 children in each of France, Spain and Germany took part in the most comprehensive survey ever undertaken in to the current knowledge of climate change and what people do to combat climate change in different European countries.