Nigel Farage faces a setback as recent polls reveal that a majority of the public are in favor of the UK’s net zero commitments. According to a YouGov survey, 60% of respondents support the country’s green initiatives, while only 25% oppose them.
Reform UK has expressed intentions to discard Britain’s climate targets, denied the existence of a climate crisis, and endorsed a return to fracking. Kemi Badenoch has also indicated plans to abandon the UK Government’s climate promises.
During the COP 30 event in Belem, Brazil, the Prime Minister criticized both Reform UK and the Tories, emphasizing the importance of wholeheartedly embracing net zero to avoid adverse effects on energy costs and national security.
Support for net zero commitments is particularly high among Green voters from 2024, with 86% in favor. Additionally, a significant percentage of Labour and Lib Dem supporters, ranging from 76% to 79%, also back the initiative.
Despite former Prime Minister Theresa May enshrining the net zero commitment into law in 2019, only 48% of Tories currently support the target, with less enthusiastic backing. Among supportive Tories, a substantial portion tends to support rather than strongly support net zero, while 37% are opposed. Conversely, the majority of Reform UK voters oppose net zero, with only 23% in favor.
The level of support for net zero seems to correlate with personal expectations, as 75% of opponents believe it would negatively impact them. The survey, based on a sample of 2083 adults, also indicates that 39% of Britons feel the government is not doing enough to combat climate change.
Furthermore, only 2% of respondents believe the UK will achieve its net zero pledge, with 18% expressing doubts about reaching most of the goal. Even among net zero supporters, only 28% believe that the country will mostly or entirely achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
In response, a Labour spokesperson emphasized the importance of clean energy for energy security, cost reduction, and job creation. They criticized political opponents for potentially jeopardizing clean energy jobs and burdening families and businesses with higher bills. The Labour party highlighted their efforts to support families with energy bill reductions and promote clean, domestic energy sources to create jobs and lower costs in the long term.