By tracking which issues people in Great Britain say matter most, the Office for National Statistics offers a reliable benchmark to compare with public service broadcaster coverage. 

by Alina Sandauer (Content Analyst) & Rosie Frost (Journalism Insights Analyst)

3 March 2026

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics, tracking everything from population size to inflation. It collects and publishes data on the economy, population and society at national, regional and local levels.

The ONS operates under the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007, which safeguards its independence from government interference. Institutions like the Bank of England use its data to inform decisions on interest rates, while the UK Government relies on it for population planning.

Among its many outputs is the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN), which regularly asks people about a range of topics, including the issues they consider most important in the UK. Climate News Tracker uses this survey as a reference to assess how broadcasters’ climate coverage compares with public priorities.

What is the ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey?

The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey is a regular, nationally representative survey run by the ONS to measure people’s views, experiences and behaviours across the UK.  The survey covers adults aged 16 and over and is designed to provide timely insight into how people are responding to social, economic and political conditions.

Its sampling framework is designed to reflect the wider population. Responses are weighted by age, sex, region, qualifications and employment status so that results represent the population as a whole, rather than only those who responded.

Twice each month, over two 12-day collection periods, participants complete the survey mainly through online questionnaires. The results are combined to produce a single set of monthly findings.

One of the survey’s key questions asks respondents which issues they think are the most important facing the UK today. Participants can select more than one option from a predefined list.

Although topics can change with current events, the survey consistently tracks a core set of issues, most often including climate change and the environment, the cost of living, the NHS, the economy, crime, international conflict, housing, and immigration. 

Regular and consistent questioning allows the survey to monitor changes in public perceptions of priority issues over time.

What does ONS data tell us about public attitudes to climate change and the environment?

ONS data shows that, on average, around half of adults in 2025 reported climate change and the environment as an important issue. This proportion has gradually decreased since July to August 2023, when 69% of adults identified it as an important topic. 

To coincide with COP30, the ONS also asked people in more detail about their opinions on climate change and the environment. When asked how climate change had affected them over the past 12 months, the most commonly reported impacts were heatwaves (55%), strong winds (38%), and drought (26%). 

Nearly three-quarters of adults (74%) reported they had been affected in at least one of these ways, an increase from two-thirds (66%) in October 2024.

Looking ahead, 84% of adults say they expect to be affected by climate change in the next 10 years. The most commonly anticipated effects were increased temperatures (74%), water shortages (60%), increased flooding (55%), stronger winds (45%), and rising sea levels or coastal erosion (43%).

Climate change remains important to around half of adults, and most expect to be personally affected by it. However, it has declined as a top public priority and now sits in a middle tier alongside issues such as housing.

Why does Climate News Tracker use ONS data as a benchmark?

Climate News Tracker uses ONS data for two main reasons. First, it is the UK’s national statistics institute, producing data that meets rigorous quality and reliability standards. 

Second, it reflects public priorities. Public service broadcasters (PSBs) have a remit to serve the public interest, so comparing their coverage with ONS data shows whether it reflects the issues the public says matter most.

No one expects broadcasters to match public opinion surveys completely. Broadcasters’ coverage is shaped by news values, breaking events, and editorial judgement. Some topics, like conflict and crime, naturally dominate because of their immediacy. 

Climate News Tracker focuses on patterns in coverage over time, rather than individual stories or monthly changes, to identify broader trends. It tracks the frequency of climate change mentions on TV, radio and online across the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky News relative to other major issues. 

Our data shows that coverage of one of the world’s most pressing topics consistently falls below levels audiences say they are concerned about via the ONS. It generally ranks below issues such as the cost of living, health and crime in terms of how often it is covered. Coverage often spikes during extreme weather events or international climate summits, but these peaks are short-lived.

By combining media monitoring with ONS data, Climate News Tracker helps contextualise how public concern aligns with the issues PSBs choose to cover and highlights where attention may lag behind what people consider important.

Sources

Office for National Statistics (ONS), May 2025, Opinions and Lifestyle Survey Quality and Methodology Information (QMI)

Office for National Statistics (ONS), November 2025, Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: October 2025

Office for National Statistics (ONS), accessed 2026, Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: previous releases