Concern among Australians about climate change is on the rise, a trend likely to continue amid record temperatures and President Barack Obama's carbon emission cuts, according to the Lowy Institute.
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Its annual poll found 45 per cent of respondents viewed global warming as "a serious and pressing problem", up from 40 per cent. The five previous polls had shown declining climate concerns.
"There is a definite change in trend, and concern is definitely on the rise," said Alex Oliver, Lowy's director of polling.
Almost two-thirds said the government should take ''a leadership role on reducing emissions", compared with 28 per cent who thought we should await an international consensus. Just 7 per cent said the government "should do nothing".
The International Energy Agency warned on Tuesday the likely energy investments to 2035 would lift global temperatures at least 3.6 degrees, a catastrophic increase.
Last year, more than $US1.1 trillion ($1.19 trillion) was poured into fossil fuels, four times the $US250 billion invested in clean energy, it said.
To keep warming to within the 2 degrees global goal, annual investment in low-carbon energy would need to rise to $US900 billion and spending on energy efficiency should top $US1 trillion by 2035, IEA chief economist Fatih Birol said.
Policymakers "need to provide clear and credible signals that lower risks and inspire confidence if we are to switch investment … at the necessary scale and speed," Dr Birol said.
