Powering the future: Public attitudes towards green energy infrastructure in Britain

Climate change, some would argue, is the biggest existential threat facing humanity today. In the UK, one of the ways in which the Labour government aims to tackle this threat is by developing the infrastructure needed to create and distribute green energy. It argues that its ‘Green Prosperity Plan’, which is intended to deliver a zero-carbon electricity industry by 2030, will not only help to combat climate change but also help turn Britain’s economy around, cut bills, create jobs, and deliver greater energy security.

Delivering this objective would require, inter alia, the development of green energy infrastructure. Apart from building wind farms on land rather than solely out at sea (as was the policy of the previous government), the current government also plans to build more pylons that can carry electricity across the countryside and, for the first time since the 1990s, build new nuclear power stations.

The success or otherwise of these developments will largely depend on public support. So, what are the attitudes of people in Britain towards building this infrastructure?  

There is majority support for the construction of more onshore wind farms, with 70% of respondents in favour. However, the building of new pylons and nuclear power stations remains contentious; only 45% support the construction of new pylons, and 43% support the building of new nuclear power stations. While many expressed ambivalence, a significant portion of the population opposed these developments, with 22% against making it easier to build new pylons and 27% against constructing new nuclear power stations.  

^{Source: British Social Attitudes, 2024} 

Of course, we might anticipate that people’s support or opposition towards such developments depends on their attitudes towards climate change.  

Those who believe climate change is caused mainly or entirely by human activity were much more likely to support building wind farms on land than those who think climate change is caused by natural processes. Around 9 in 10 (89%) of those who think climate change is caused entirely by human activity support building onshore wind farms, while this was just 40% for those who attribute climate change to entirely natural processes. While less pronounced, the same relationship was seen for building pylons, where 46% of those who believe in a human cause are in support, compared to 30% of those who think climate change is a natural process.  

When asked about building new nuclear power stations, a different relationship was found. Among those who believe climate change is entirely natural, 45% support building nuclear power stations, compared to 39% of those who attribute climate change to human activity.

Public support for the development of green infrastructure therefore appears to be influenced, at least in part, by beliefs about the cause of climate change. Individuals who believe human activity is the primary cause were more likely to support building wind farms on land and new pylons to carry electricity across the countryside, but less likely to support the construction of new nuclear power stations.

While the majority of the public do believe human activity is the primary cause of climate change, there has been a recent decline in the proportion who hold this view. In 2022, 63% attributed climate change to human activity, while this figure fell to 55% in 2024 – the lowest on record. 

^{Source: British Social Attitudes, 2022-2024}

But what could be driving this increase in scepticism?

Public opposition to net-zero policies was higher among supporters of right-wing parties, such as Reform UK, whose support has been increasing in recent polls. In our 2024 British Social Attitudes survey, Reform UK voters were the most likely to show climate scepticism – that is, to say that they do not believe climate change is happening, or that it is happening but not due to human activity. Over 90% of left-leaning voters (Labour, Liberal Democrats, Green) believe climate change is happening and is at least partly due to humans, compared with just 57% of Reform voters. Reform UK voters (and Conservative voters) were also more likely to say that climate change is not happening at all – 14% of Reform and 11% of Conservatives held this view, compared to just 3% of Labour, 2% of Liberal Democrats and 2% of Greens.

It follows that support for building onshore wind farms, pylons, and nuclear power stations varied significantly by political affiliation. Reform UK voters were less likely to support the building of wind farms and pylons compared to left-leaning voters, but more likely to support building nuclear power stations (Table 3). 

^{Source: British Social Attitudes, 2024}

Opposition to net-zero is a central pillar of Reform UK’s messaging. For instance, in their 2024 general election manifesto, they outlined their intention to ‘scrap net-zero and related subsidies’.  It is therefore unsurprising that the party attracts climate sceptics, or alternatively, that it fosters climate scepticism among its voters – and that, as a result, Reform UK voters were less supportive of green initiatives (such as wind farms and building pylons).

It is also unsurprising that Reform UK voters were more supportive of nuclear power than left-leaning voters. Nuclear power is often considered less ‘green’ compared to renewable energy sources like wind or solar, and it is therefore more likely to be favoured by those who prioritise energy security and economic factors over environmental concerns.

In sum, while there is substantial support for renewable energy projects like wind farms and pylons among left-leaning voters, opposition (or at best, ambivalence) is prevalent among the conservative right. In contrast, while right-wing voters support nuclear power, there is opposition (or at best, ambivalence) from the left. For the Labour government and its ‘Green Prosperity Plan’, this presents a multifaceted challenge. To build the broad-based support needed to achieve its net-zero targets, the government must navigate what has become a highly polarised political landscape. To succeed, the Labour government will need to find ways of addressing the concerns and priorities of all voter groups.