77% of Britons Changed Their Lifestyle to Tackle Environmental Issues, New ONS Survey Finds

More than three-quarters of adults in Great Britain have changed their lifestyle to help tackle environmental issues, according to new data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics. The UK climate lifestyle survey also found that a record 85 percent of adults felt the effects of climate change in at least one way during the past year.

The findings come from the ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, covering adults aged 16 and over in Great Britain. The data was collected between 1 July and 27 September 2026, a period that coincided with what the Met Office has provisionally declared the hottest summer on record.

What the UK climate lifestyle survey found

When asked to what extent they had made changes to their lifestyle to help tackle environmental issues, 77 percent of adults said they had made some or a lot of changes — 68 percent said “some changes” and 10 percent said “a lot of changes”. Only 23 percent said they had made no changes at all.

Among those who had made changes, the most commonly reported actions taken in the past 12 months were:

• Waste reduction — 80 percent
• Changes to shopping habits — 48 percent
• Changes to diet — 42 percent
• Changes to travel — 41 percent

Women were more likely than men to report changes (82 percent compared with 72 percent), and adults with a degree or equivalent qualification reported changes at 85 percent. Adults aged 30 to 49 were among the most active groups at 79 percent.

Record share felt climate change this year

Some 85 percent of adults said they had been affected by climate change in at least one way in the past 12 months — up from 74 percent in 2025 and 66 percent in 2024. The steady rise shows how directly households are now experiencing the changing climate. A recent consumer report also found 85 percent of global consumers concerned about sustainability, with green habits growing worldwide.

Barriers to doing more

Among those who had already made changes, the most commonly reported barriers to doing more were cost (43 percent), a belief that large polluters should change before individuals (37 percent), and not knowing what more they could do (26 percent).

Among the 23 percent who had made no changes, almost a third (31 percent) said large polluters should change before individuals, while 26 percent said they did not think their actions would have any effect and 21 percent said it was too expensive.

What experts say

Diane Crowe, group sustainability director at Reconomy, the international circular economy specialist, said the data shows the public is willing to act, and that waste reduction is where many people are starting.

“But it also shows that good intentions aren’t enough on their own. People tell us that cost is the biggest barrier, and a quarter don’t know what more they could do. That is a challenge for the whole sector, not just for consumers,” she said.

She added that with the Simpler Recycling reforms coming in, consumers will be central to whether the new system delivers, and that clear communication, consistent collections and affordable, accessible options for repair and reuse will determine whether people can turn intentions into everyday habits.

“The fact that nearly a third of those who haven’t changed their behaviour believe large polluters should act first is also a reminder that responsibility is shared. A circular economy only works if producers, retailers, local authorities, waste and recycling companies and consumers are all pulling in the same direction,” she said.

Key facts

The survey paints a clear picture: ordinary households are already adapting their daily lives for the environment, but they need affordability, clarity and shared responsibility from industry to go further.

Frequently asked questions

What is the ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey?

It is a regular survey by the UK’s Office for National Statistics covering adults aged 16 and over in Great Britain. This edition, on attitudes to climate change and environmental issues, collected data from 1 July to 27 September 2026.

What did the survey find about lifestyle changes?

77 percent of adults said they had made some or a lot of changes to their lifestyle to help tackle environmental issues — 68 percent made some changes and 10 percent made a lot. Waste reduction was the most common action, reported by 80 percent of those who changed.

How many people felt the effects of climate change?

85 percent of adults said they had been affected by climate change in at least one way in the past 12 months, rising from 74 percent in 2025 and 66 percent in 2024.

What stops people from doing more for the environment?

Among those who had already made changes, cost was the biggest barrier at 43 percent, followed by the belief that large polluters should change before individuals (37 percent) and not knowing what more they could do (26 percent).

Why does waste reduction lead the list of actions?

According to Reconomy’s Diane Crowe, waste reduction is where many people start because it is visible and practical in daily life — but she notes that affordable repair and reuse options and clear recycling systems are needed to turn good intentions into lasting habits.