The people of Sheffield feel ‘powerless’ to make an impact when it comes to climate change, despite knowing how crucial it is, according to latest research. 

Climate Conversations Sheffield have been collecting public opinion about how they feel in relation to changes in the environment, and are hoping to present their findings to key policy makers this autumn. 

“What we’re getting from people is, most people are concerned but feel powerless,” says Kathy Aston, the co-founder of the organisation and a lecturer at the University of Sheffield.

“When you ask them what should be done about it, they usually say, ‘Well, we wish that governments or local authorities or big companies would do something about this’.”

The organisation is aiming to present their research to local councillors, MPs, and the South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, to “show those policymakers that actually people do care. It’s not necessarily a vote loser”.

It hopes those key players will take meaningful action, and bring about reforms to curb climate change. 

According to the organisation, the overwhelming response from the public centres around demands from local governments and big companies to make changes.

Ms Aston explained people feel like they can do their bit, but also feel like their efforts will not amount to much without those in power making systematic changes.

Climate Conversations initially started their research in 2018 by attending community events and sports fixtures, asking people about their feelings on the issue of climate change. 

Lauren Jones, the co-founder of the voluntary group, explained that the local community has been supportive of Climate Conversations and understands what it is trying to achieve.

“I think that people do care. I think a lot of people do understand why we’re here and what we’re trying to do. I don’t think there are that many people that think it’s a really strange concept. It is a little bit different from what they’re used to seeing, but people have been quite supportive,” says Ms Jones.

Before they finalise their data, Ms Ashton and Ms Jones want to include more inputs from ethnic minority groups and those with disabilities. 

The organisation’s current efforts revolve around making themselves available at events, but there are certain disabilities that may prevent individuals from attending an event. 

Ms Aston explained she has attempted to reach those people through support groups.

“Sometimes the issue is trying to get in the door”, she says.

“You email the [disability support] groups and you don’t hear back. Getting your foot in the door takes a lot of time actually.

“In our last few months, if we can get some of those groups, we’d be very happy.”

Climate Conversations was inspired by the “Barstool” project held in Dublin. The initiative was centred around the idea of asking members of the public what they think and feel about climate change. 

Ms Aston was a part of the Carbon Neutral University (CNU) group at the University of Sheffield, and the efforts of CNU contributed to the University publishing its first Sustainability Strategy in 2020. 

Ms Jones explains that the Sheffield project has grown organically, expanding their data collection to teenagers. 

“It’s interesting that children still are interested and learning and want to talk about climate change,” she says. “As long as they understand the basic concept, they [children] can still be included.”

Ms Aston hopes they will also “inspire other activists or other interested people to think of their own ways that they can be effective climate activists”. 

She also pointed out that while most people are concerned and understand it’s human-driven, some people are still under the impression it is a natural cycle, which is the second most common response they receive about climate change. 

“There’s sometimes a bit of confusion or maybe a lack of understanding about the actual connection,” Ms Aston says. “People will say things like climate issues are connected to plastic waste, which is kind of connected to the oil industry, but it’s not a direct cause of climate change. There’s sometimes a little bit of conflation of different environmental issues.” 

She believes if the project had started 10 to 15 years ago, they would have received different types of responses which would revolve around individual actions such as the idea of recycling more, turning down the heater or taking the bus instead of driving. 

Ms Aston said: “We’re not here to tell people what to do. We’re here to listen to what people think. We’re not here to give people answers. We’re here to ask what they think and feel and what their ideas are, and maybe, on the back of that, people think a little bit about climate change. We don’t have the answers either. We’re not pretending to have them.” 

The organisation believes they are now at the point of ‘data saturation’ and are coming to the end of their research, which they hope will create fundamental changes when it is delivered to policy makers later this year.