Asked if they thought human activities were causing significant changes to the earth's climate, 61 per cent of respondents to a Hunter Valley Research Foundation survey said they agreed or strongly agreed.

The foundation's Evan Steverson said a separate group, that opposed action on climate change because it did not think it was real or caused by humans, was mainly men aged over 50.

"The respondents most likely to support immediate action on climate change were either female or in the 35 to 49 years age group," Mr Steverson said.

A Sydney University study in November found 67 per cent of Australians put global warming down to human activity.

The university figures, released before Tony Abbott became Opposition leader on the back of support from Coalition climate change deniers, found 70 per cent of Labor voters wanted action on global warming, compared with 44 per cent of Liberal voters.

The annual Hunter Region Environmental Attitudes Survey found nearly half the respondents considered climate change a problem that needs immediate action, but a further 25 per cent thought world leaders could take their time dealing with the threat.