Over 50 years old want to tackle the climate crisis ‘even if it leads to higher prices’ | climate crisis

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A study finds that a majority of people over 50 believe the UK government should do more to tackle the climate crisis, even if it leads to higher prices.

A survey of more than 500 people aged 50 or older found that nearly two-thirds want ministers to move faster on climate initiatives, regardless of whether that means products and services will be more expensive over time, or more difficult to access. to her.

“Our research shows that centrists feel a great deal of responsibility for the health of the planet and their role in mitigating climate change,” said Stuart Lewis, founder of Rest Less, who conducted the study.

Rest Less, a website that supports and advises older adults, found that only a minority of older adults said they were not interested in the climate crisis, challenging assumptions about the generational divide on environmental issues.

More than two out of three people surveyed said they have bought less clothes to reduce waste in recent years, while half have reduced their car use and consumed less meat and dairy. One in five said they only bought seasonal food, while half said they reduced energy use at home.

“The vast majority of middle-aged people surveyed are already making changes to their own habits, from recycling more to reducing consumption, changing their travel habits, and some have even given up their car entirely,” Lewis said.

However, the results come as other research shows that older homeowners are less likely to get significant financial benefits from greening their properties.

The government aims to upgrade as many homes as possible to an average energy efficiency rating of C by 2035. But the average cost of improvements — which could mean insulating water tanks and lofts, or installing solar panels and heat pumps — could be much higher for older adults. age because they tend to have older and less energy efficient homes.

A study by the Nationwide Building Society found that the cost of improvements was around £8,100 on average, but rose to £25,800 for homes with an energy efficiency rating of F or G.

The average annual savings from greening a home is estimated at around £1,780 a year, which means that owners of older properties will only reap financial benefits after 14 years.

“This points to the need for more stimulus to help decarbonize homes,” said Andrew Harvey, chief economist at Nationwide.

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Meanwhile, Better Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) have a limited impact on home prices. And while the worst-performing homes were rated 3.5% below the home average, the greenest homes attracted only a premium of about 1.7%, Nationwide said.

Harvey said the financial implications could “discourage” older landlords from taking action. “However, the value people place on energy efficiency is likely to change over time, particularly if the government takes measures to stimulate increased energy efficiency in the future to help ensure the UK meets its climate change commitments.”

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