Most Australians support action tackling global warming regardless of costs

A majority, or 53 percent, of Australian adults believe that global warming is "a serious and pressing problem (and that) we should begin taking steps now even if this involves significant costs", the result of a poll conducted by Australia's leading think tank, the Lowy Institute for International Policy, showed.

The results of the poll was released on Tuesday by the think tank, which conducted two nationally representative telephone surveys between Feb. 26 and March 15, 2016, and between June 1 and 9, 2016, covering 1,202 and 1,002 Australian adults respectively.

"This is the highest level of concern about global warming since 2008, and up 17 points since 2012, confirming a steady upwards trend in Australians' concern about climate change," said Dr Michael Fullilove, Executive Director of the Lowy Institute.

"This is a result which puts climate policy firmly on the agenda for whichever party wins government on 2 July," he said.

The federal elections are scheduled to be held on July 2, with all of the 150 House of Representatives seats and 76 Senate seats open for grab.

As many as 88 percent of Australians surveyed see the use of fossil fuels as "in decline around the world and Australia should invest more in alternative energy sources".

This is in line with last year's results which showed Australians see a dominant role for solar energy in the country's future energy mix.

Almost 80 percent of Australians agree that "the use of fossil fuels causes global warming and we should reduce our reliance on them to help combat climate change".

However, as Australia is a country rich in coal, a narrow majority of the public, or 53 percent, agree that "Australia has an abundant supply of fossil fuels and we should continue to use and export them to keep our economy strong".

Despite the awareness, the results also show that Australians are divided on the best economic policy to deal with the problem of carbon emissions.

When forced to choose between the current Direct Action scheme and a price on carbon or emissions trading scheme, a slight majority of Australians, or 53 percent, say Australia should "continue the government's Direct Action plan which pays businesses for emissions reduction."

Despite the abolition of the carbon tax in 2014, however, there are still 40 percent of Australians who would prefer that the government "introduce an emissions trading scheme or price on carbon, where people pay for their carbon emissions." Enditem