The institute also finds three-quarters of adult Australians believe the Federal Government has done a poor job addressing the climate change issue.
It comes as the Government reaches the pointy end of its Multi-Party Climate Change Committee talks on setting a price for carbon.
From Canberra, Bronwyn Herbert reports.
BRONWYN HERBERT: In its seventh year of polling, the Lowy Institute has found one issue is on a downwards trajectory: that's climate change.
MICHAEL WESLEY: Now just 41 per cent of Australian's say global warming is a serious and pressing problem and that we should take steps now, even if this involves significant costs. That's down five points from last year and 27 per cent from its high point in 2006.
BRONWYN HERBERT: Michael Wesley is the Lowy Institute's executive director. He believes a combination of negative factors has led to the drop - the failure of an international agreement in Copenhagen and a failure at home to nut out a deal. Read the full report here.
Source: Bronwyn Herbert, ABC News.
