A majority of voters believe local councils should force their residents to take action on climate change, according to a new poll published today.

The Local Government Association, a cross-party organisation representing councils in England and Wales, commissioned ComRes to determine the public’s attitudes towards global warming and the role local authorities should play in tackling it.

The survey found 56% of respondents thought that councils should force people to take action on climate change while 33% did not. 64% of respondents also felt that local authorities should introduce financial incentive schemes to encourage people to reduce greenhouse gases, and 53% felt councils should also introduce penalty schemes for residents who do not act.

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Commenting on the findings, Cllr Paul Bettison, Chairman of the Local Government Association Environment Board, said: "This survey indicates a growing awareness of the threat posed by climate change and support for action to combat it. The British public is concerned about global warming and believe this should be a priority for local councils.

"Candidates for local and general elections ignore policies to combat climate change at their peril. There is clear support across the country and all age groups for action to be taken at a local level to tackle global warming."

(CD/JM)