LONDON, March 10 /PRNewswire/ --

Green groups tackling climate change and carbon emissions are facing yet another challenge - public apathy.

Thirty percent of people feel there is too much coverage in the media about CO2 emissions, and over half of these are 'bored hearing about it,' a YouGov survey conducted on behalf of the by the Environmental Transport Association reveals.

The poll also showed that although environmental apathy is a problem equal across social grades and regions, the same is not true for the sexes: Men are twice as likely as women to be bored by messages about CO2 emissions.

The news comes ahead of a 'green' Budget, set for 12th March, expected to deliver a range of proposals to tackle climate change.

Andrew Davis, director at the Environmental Transport Association, said: "It's understandable that people are getting bored by endless green talk that is never translated into action - increasing public apathy is a real concern for those of us in the environmental movement. The challenge for Alistair Darling in his Budget is to take action that matches his green rhetoric."

Survey key findings:

- 18 per cent of people are bored by the amount of media coverage about CO2 emissions. A further 12 per cent feel there is simply too much.

- 6 per cent of people are indifferent to media coverage of CO2 emissions, with a further 4 per cent admitting to not fully understanding what CO2 is. Another 4 per cent are not aware of any media coverage on the subject.

- Men are twice as likely as women to be bored by coverage about CO2 emissions (24 per cent and 12 per cent respectively)

- All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,060 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 12th - 14th February 2008. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

- It is expected the Budget will include tax incentives to encourage the use of low-emission vehicles and new aviation taxes. The ETA believes that central to any national strategy on climate change must be an across-the-board carbon tax.

- The Environmental Transport Association is a not-for-profit ethical breakdown organisation, providing carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport http://www.eta.co.uk

- The Environmental Transport Association has launched the first car insurance policy which automatically offsets the CO2 produced by a year's driving.

- The Environmental Transport Association each year produces an online environmental audit of every new car sold in Britain - it is the only car buyer's guide to take into account car occupant and pedestrian safety as well as fuel efficiency and levels of emissions. It includes a 'top ten' and 'worst ten' lists - see http://www.eta.co.uk