Many MPs are at odds with the British public with regards to how to ensure the UK’s energy security, according to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU).
Almost two-thirds (62%) of the public view reducing the use of fossil fuels as the best way to achieve energy security, with a shift to renewable energy then favoured as an alternative. Less than a fifth (19%) view new oil and gas exploration licenses as the best forwards. Almost half (48%) of MPs do believe renewables will provide more energy security than fossil fuels, though this drops to 28% for Conservative MPs, with four in 10 (43%) believing it better to increase the supply of oil and gas.
Just a quarter (25%) of MPs feel that their constituents would support a solar farm, with half (52%) of Conservative MPs believing their constituents would be in opposition. Yet, the ECIU found three-quarters (76%) of the public would actually be in favour of having a solar farm in their local area.
The findings are similar for onshore wind farms, with half (50%) of MPs and once more a greater proportion of Conservative MPs (71%) believing their constituents would oppose a wind project in their local area. Once again, however, three-quarters (75%) of the public say they would be in favour. Notably, two-thirds (63%) would also welcome new pylons to transmit electricity.
On the overarching net zero target the country is working towards, two-thirds (69%) of the public are in favour, as are three-quarters (76%) of MPs. Once again, there is a substantial proportion of Conservative MPs (42%) that do not believe it is essential to reach net zero to halt climate change. Only 28% understand reaching net zero is crucial to stopping climate change from getting worse.
Digging deeper into rural areas, ECIU polling found that 73% are concerned about climate change and 68% support the UK’s net zero target. Only 12% are actually opposed. Current and former farmers are even more supportive, with 72% in favour. In the rural seats that voted Conservative in 2019 but are now planning to vote Labour, concern around climate change is even higher at 81%, as is their support for net zero with 77% supportive.
Furthermore, nearly six in 10 (58%) back a new onshore wind farm being developed in their local area, with 64% supportive of a new solar project. The trend of areas that are swinging from Conservative to Labour being more supportive of climate and net zero related issues is also followed here, with 68% favouring onshore wind and 72% supportive of new solar farms.
Significantly, rural voters are likely to have noticed climate impacts in their local area. Two-thirds (66%) said they have seen more frequent or severe flooding, with over half (55%) reporting crop damage because of extreme weather including drought or floods.
Policies that could help the UK to reach net zero in farming, land use and renewables are also popular among rural voters. Nearly eight in 10 (78%) support government schemes that would help farmers to shift to environmentally friendly farming practices, while 63% back some farmland being converted to nature reserves and 81% support farmers using a greater proportion of their land for nature friendly farming.
Tom Lancaster, ECIU Land, Food and Farming Analyst, said: “Rather than being ‘blockers’, rural voters also demonstrate strong support for the policies needed to tackle climate change, such as more funding for greener farming, and strong support for renewable energy in their area. To win the respect of voters in these new electoral battlegrounds, all political parties are likely to need a strong offer on climate change, and should be wary of finding themselves on the wrong side of the debate from voters in these vital rural seats.”
