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Agriculture, Farming & Rural
FCA

Central West Orana locals have their say on climate, energy

Farmers for Climate Action

  • Increased heatwaves, bushfires and floods driving increased climate concern

  • Energy companies blamed for high bills

  • Just 22% of Central West Orana residents polled oppose the shift to clean energy

More than a third of Central West Orana residents have become more concerned about climate change in the past year with heatwaves the key reason, new polling has revealed.

Farmers for Climate Action has released the research, commissioned by the Renew Australia for All campaign, as it seeks to make sure the voices of regional Australia are heard. The polling of 153 Central West Orana residents was part of a broader poll of 1,965 residents across key renewable energy zones, with the polling completed on March 20 (polling tables attached). The research firm, 89 Degrees East, is a member of The Research Society of Australia. 

Media contact: Cam Klose 0490 436 948 [email protected]

See Saw Wine Export and Sustainability Manager Maggie Jarrett, who farms south of Orange on Wiradjuri Country, said the poll showed the quiet majority agreed that harnessing the sun made sense.

"Farmers have always worked with the sun so it makes sense to harness it for our energy too, on our own terms,” Ms Jarrett said.

“I’d rather harness the sun rather than rely on oil imported from reserves we don't have and markets we can't control. The polling shows the quiet majority in our region already agrees."  

FCA CEO Verity Morgan-Schmidt said the data showed 37% of Central West Orana residents polled had become more concerned about climate change in the past year.

"Locals said heatwaves (73%), bushfires (52%) and floods (52%) were what drove their increased concern about climate change," Ms Morgan-Schmidt said.

"Fifty per cent of Central West Orana residents blame energy company profiteering as the key reason for high energy bills. Other causes such as global energy price spikes and coal power station breakdowns were also named by locals; just 20% thought clean energy was responsible.

"Some 57% of Central West Orana residents name solar as the "significant" energy source for the future, while 41% nominate onshore wind, with gas and coal equal at 25%, and nuclear last at 23%."

"The data showed a striking gap between real and perceived support for clean energy. Support for clean energy in Central West Orana remains strong at 60%, with 22% opposed, and 19% neither supporting nor opposing. Yet, only 38% of those polled said they thought there was majority support for clean energy in the region.

"Media and social media algorithms continue to promote conflict, and FCA continues to listen to farmers, not Facebook."

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Contact details:

Media contact: Cam Klose 0490 436 948 [email protected]