Nigel Farage faces a significant setback as recent polling data reveals that a majority of the public is in favor of the UK’s net zero commitments. A YouGov survey indicated that 60% of respondents support the country’s green pledges, with only 25% opposing them.
Reform UK has taken a stance against Britain’s climate targets, dismissing the existence of a climate crisis and advocating for a return to fracking. Kemi Badenoch has also expressed intentions to abandon the UK Government’s climate goals.
During COP 30 in Belem, Brazil, the Prime Minister strongly criticized both Reform UK and the Tories, emphasizing the importance of full participation in achieving net zero to avoid negative impacts on energy prices and national security.
Support for net zero commitments is notably high among 2024 Green voters, standing at 86%, while 76-79% of Labour and Lib Dem supporters also endorse these commitments. Despite former Prime Minister Theresa May enshrining the net zero commitment in law in 2019, only 48% of Tories support the target, with less enthusiastic backing.
Among Tories in favor of net zero, there is a tendency to “tend to support” rather than “strongly support” the initiative, with 37% expressing opposition. In contrast, a majority of Reform UK voters oppose net zero, with 67% against and only 23% in favor.
The level of support for net zero seems to correlate with individuals’ perceptions of personal impact, as 75% of opponents believe it would leave them worse off. The survey, conducted among 2083 adults, also revealed that 39% of Britons feel the government is not currently doing enough to combat climate change.
While 2% of Britons believe the UK will achieve its net zero pledge, only 18% think the country will make significant progress toward the goal. Even among net zero supporters, only 28% are optimistic about achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
In response to the findings, a Labour spokesperson highlighted the benefits of clean energy in ensuring energy security, lower bills, and job creation. They criticized political opponents for potentially jeopardizing these advantages and emphasized Labour’s commitment to clean energy and job creation.
Additionally, a Labour source criticized Nigel Farage’s stance on net zero, labeling it as detrimental to workers and clean energy jobs. The source compared Reform’s energy policies unfavorably, suggesting they would lead to job losses and higher bills, contrasting Labour’s efforts to reduce energy bills and promote clean, domestic energy sources.
Overall, the public’s support for net zero commitments appears to be influenced by perceptions of personal impact, government action on climate change, and differing political stances on clean energy policies.
