Nigel Farage faces a setback as recent polling data reveals strong public backing for the UK’s commitment to achieving net zero status. According to a YouGov survey, 60% of respondents support the country’s environmental goals, while only 25% oppose them.
Reform UK has taken a different stance, promising to discard the UK’s climate targets, disputing the existence of a climate crisis, and advocating for a revival of fracking. Kemi Badenoch has also expressed intentions to abandon the UK Government’s climate commitments.
During the recent COP 30 conference in Belem, Brazil, the Prime Minister criticized both Reform UK and the Tories, emphasizing the importance of wholeheartedly embracing net zero to prevent negative impacts on energy costs and national security.
Support for net zero objectives is particularly strong among 2024 Green Party supporters, with 86% in favor, and also enjoys significant backing from Labour and Liberal Democrat voters, ranging from 76% to 79% in support.
Although Theresa May legally embedded the net zero commitment in 2019, only 48% of Conservative supporters are behind the target, albeit with less enthusiasm. The majority of pro-net zero Tories express a tendency to support the initiative rather than fully endorsing it, while 37% remain opposed. In contrast, most Reform UK followers are against net zero, with 67% in opposition and only 23% in favor.
The level of support for net zero correlates with individuals’ perceptions of how it will impact them personally. A significant majority (75%) of those who oppose the initiative believe it will have negative consequences for them.
The survey, conducted among 2083 adults, also highlighted that 39% of Britons feel the government is not doing enough to combat climate change. Additionally, 13% believe the current efforts strike a balance, while 24% think too much money and effort is being allocated to environmental issues. Among net zero advocates, 57% feel that insufficient action is being taken.
Despite the widespread support for net zero, only 2% of Britons believe the UK will achieve this goal. A mere 18% are optimistic that the country will make significant progress toward the target by 2050, even among supporters of the initiative, where only 28% foresee complete or substantial success.
In response, a Labour spokesperson emphasized the importance of clean energy for national security, lower expenses, and job creation. They criticized political opponents for risking dependence on uncontrollable markets and jeopardizing domestic employment opportunities.
A Labour source further criticized Nigel Farage’s opposition to net zero, labeling it as detrimental to workers. They warned that Reform UK’s energy policies could endanger a million clean energy jobs and burden families and businesses with increased bills. In contrast, Labour highlighted their efforts to provide financial relief to families facing energy costs this winter and promote clean, domestic energy sources to stimulate job growth and reduce long-term expenses.