"I am so glad you are doing this. I felt like I was going mad; all this happening and no one talking about it."
That was the response from one woman who stopped to share her concerns about the changing climate during a public engagement event in Ilkley.
The conversation was sparked by three local community groups, Climate Action Ilkley, Climate Action Menston and Climate Action Silsden, which have been working together on a project called Let's Talk Climate. Believing they needed to engage more directly with residents, volunteers took to the streets of Ilkley on Saturday with an interactive survey board positioned at the corner of Brook Street and The Grove.
The board featured nine questions, with passers-by invited to place coloured stickers beside their chosen answers.
The public engagement event in Ilkley organised by local Climate Action Groups
(Image: submitted)
In less than three hours, more than 140 people of all ages stopped to take part and discuss their views.
The results suggested a high level of concern about climate-related issues. Most respondents said they believed the risk of wildfires in the area is increasing, were worried about the impact of drought and heavy rainfall on farmers, and felt rising temperatures would have a negative effect on their children, grandchildren and future generations.
One question mirrored that used in the Government's Public Attitudes Tracker survey, which is carried out every four months. Nationally, 78 per cent of people say they are either very or fairly concerned about climate change, while 16 per cent are not very concerned and five per cent are not concerned at all.
Responses in Ilkley indicated an even higher level of concern than the national figures.
The public engagement event in Ilkley organised by local Climate Action Groups
(Image: submitted)
Participants were also asked whether they believed the media exaggerates the impact of climate change. In a government survey conducted last year, 33 per cent of respondents agreed with that statement. However, only a small number of people taking part in the Wharfedale survey shared that view.
Further questions showed many respondents believed climate change could increase the cost of food, water and insurance, supported greater UK energy independence through domestic electricity generation, and felt the Government was not doing enough to reduce climate-related risks to public health and national security.
Steve Peel, of Climate Action Ilkley, said: "We were a little nervous about setting up in the street, but we were overwhelmed by the number of people who were keen to talk and share their feelings.
"It seems very likely that this summer's repeated heatwaves and wildfires, following last winter's heavy rainfall, have made people think more deeply about our future.
"We also signposted people to the many free local screenings of the 50-minute film The People's Emergency Briefing. In the film, scientists and experts in health and national security explain what is happening to our climate and nature. Importantly, they also explain that we already have solutions that can help reduce the risks."
Residents interested in attending a screening can find details by searching online for the National Emergency Briefing Screening Map.