CANBERRA, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- A majority of Australians believe the nation should be aiming for net zero emissions by 2050, according to the Australia Institute's annual Climate of the Nation report.
It said that more than 40 percent of Australians believe climate change has already affected droughts and floods and about two thirds, or 64 percent, said that the country should be aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.
More than 80 percent of Australians aged between 18 and 34 said they were worried about the effects of climate change, compared to 67 percent of those aged 55 and over.
Overall, 77 percent of 1960 respondents to the survey said they believe climate change is happening, the equal highest rate since the survey began in 2007, and about 12 percent disagree, down from 17 percent in 2012.
The opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP) has promised in election campaign to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent on 2005 levels by 2030, but it was defeated by the incumbent Liberal-National party (LNP) coalition.
The LNP has not made any emissions reduction promises beyond the 26-28 percent reduction from 2005 levels by 2030.
According to the report co-author Richie Merzian, a majority of respondents said that Australia's current targets were not ambitious enough.
More than three quarters of those surveyed put solar power in their top three preferred energy sources while only 18 percent for coal and 22 percent for nuclear.
