More than 40 per cent of Britons believe ecological issues such as climate change are being exaggerated, according to a poll by Cardiff University.

Dr Lorraine Whitmarsh, one of the researchers behind the study, believes this shows that many people in the UK are becoming fed up with environmental warnings.

As a result, many are failing to play their part and make efforts to reduce their impact on the environment.

"In general, people are showing little willingness to change their lifestyles," she told BBC News.

For instance, she noted that consumers appear to be unwilling to change how they travel or eat.

"These are the things that are going to make the biggest difference," she insisted.

However, Dr Whitmarsh added that many are making small alterations to their lifestyles to help the environment, such as recycling more waste and buying energy-saving light bulbs.

But the findings, which come in the run-up to the global summit on tackling climate change in Copenhagen later this year, do worry me.

If large swathes of the public are sceptical about climate change, what motivation is there for politicians to take the tough decisions that need to be made?

It could be time for campaigners and pressure groups to look at new ways of promoting the green agenda.