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As energy prices soar and households feel greater financial pressure than ever, British citizens will change their priorities – and stop worrying so much about abstract problems like climate change.
At least, that is what many commentators predicted as the UK headed into a ‘cost of living crisis’. But MoneyTransfers.com has analysed data that reveals quite the opposite.
Rather than reducing climate concerns, the cost of living crisis appears to be amplifying them, with the public blaming a lack of investment in renewables for the current economic turmoil.
– 64% of Britons believe pushing back climate commitments will keep the West dependent on Russia for energy.
– While 9% of the country does feel ‘costly climate change policies’ have contributed to their current economic woes, 66% now actively want the country to accelerate its transition to green energy.
– 66% of UK citizens also blame the government for investing too slowly on renewable energy, which 37% now believe renewable energy is cheaper than oil and gas.
Looking to the long-term
89% of adults reported that their cost of living had increased in August, much of it from surging energy prices. Yet this has not left the population desperate for quick fixes at the cost of climate targets.
While the cost of living is Britons’ number one priority, climate change still comes in at number 3 in their list of concerns. Fewer people in the UK support cutting environmental levies to control rising costs than French, German or Polish citizens.
Ultimately, the data suggests Britons see long-term benefits from pursuing climate change policies. 64% of Britons believe pushing back climate commitments will keep the West dependent on Russia for energy; 37% of people now believe renewables are cheaper than oil and gas; and 59% agree with the sentence: “Delaying our climate commitments will only push our energy bills up in the medium and long-term”.
Political solutions
66% of UK citizens blame the government for investing too slowly on renewables. While 9% of the country does feel ‘costly climate change policies’ have contributed to their current economic woes, 66% want to actively accelerate the transition to green energy in order to have more control over future costs.
Strikingly, those opposed to climate change policy showed a conspiratorial mindset, with 36% of people agreeing that “pushing up the price of oil and gas is part of a government plan to force us to switch to renewable energy”.
Jonathan Merry, CEO of MoneyTransfers.com, had this to say:
The data we’ve presented is surprisingly optimistic. Despite financial pressure, the UK public appear to see the long-term financial benefits of renewable energy – and are willing to stick by their country’s climate pledges.
Jonathan Merry, CEO of MoneyTransfers.com
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