THE majority of over-50s view climate change as a serious risk, with just one in 17 dismissive, a study suggests.

Researchers at University College London found that six in 10 older adults in England viewed climate change as a serious issue, with 30 per cent highly engaged and a further 31 per cent engaged with the threats of rising temperatures.

Just 11 per cent were aware but fatalistic about what could be done, 22 per cent were ambivalent or uncertain, and only 5.8 per cent were dismissive.

People in their 50s were more likely to be highly engaged, while those in their 70s and 80s were more likely to be defeatist. 

Higher education and wealth were linked to greater engagement.

Lead author Dr Giorgio Di Gessa said that older citizens were a diverse group in Britain, and that people seeking to increase engagement on climate change should recognise that a “one-size-fits-all” message would not work.

He suggested that those who were uncertain about climate change “may need clearer, more relatable information, while those who are fatalistic may need practical examples of what still can be done.”