A recent poll revealed that Nigel Farage faces a setback as a majority of the public show their support for the UK’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions. The YouGov survey indicated that 60% of respondents back the country’s environmental goals, with only 25% opposing them.
Reform UK has taken a different stance, promising to discard the UK’s climate targets, denying 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 commitments.
During COP 30 in Belem, Brazil, the Prime Minister criticized both Reform UK and the Tories, emphasizing the importance of full support for net zero to prevent negative impacts on energy costs and national security.
Support for net zero targets was strongest among voters who supported the Green Party in 2024, with 86% in favor. Additionally, a significant percentage of Labour and Liberal Democrat voters expressed support for the initiative.
Although former Prime Minister Theresa May enshrined the net zero commitment in law in 2019, only 48% of Conservative supporters currently endorse the target, with varying levels of enthusiasm. While most Tories tend to support net zero, a notable 37% are against it. Conversely, a majority of Reform UK voters oppose net zero, with only 23% in favor.
The survey highlighted that individuals’ support for net zero correlates with their beliefs about its personal impact, with 75% of opponents expecting negative consequences. Furthermore, the survey revealed that 39% of Britons feel the government is not taking sufficient action against climate change currently.
Despite the support for net zero, only a small percentage of Britons believe the UK will achieve the goal by 2050. Labour emphasized the importance of clean energy for national security and economic growth, criticizing opponents for potentially jeopardizing job opportunities and increasing costs for families and businesses.
Labour’s initiative to reduce energy bills for millions of families this winter was contrasted with the perceived risks associated with Reform UK’s energy policies. The party emphasized its focus on promoting clean energy to create jobs and ensure sustainable energy costs for the long term.
