A recent poll revealed that Nigel Farage faces a setback as most of the public back the UK’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions. According to a YouGov survey, 60% of respondents support the country’s environmental goals, while only 25% oppose them.
Reform UK has taken a contrasting stance by promising to discard Britain’s climate targets, denying the existence of a climate crisis, and advocating for a return to fracking. Kemi Badenoch has also declared intentions to abandon the UK Government’s climate commitments.
During the recent COP 30 conference in Belem, Brazil, the Prime Minister criticized both Reform UK and the Conservative Party, emphasizing the importance of wholeheartedly supporting net zero to avoid negative impacts on energy costs and national security.
Support for net zero targets is notably high among former Green Party voters, with 86% in favor, along with significant support from Labour and Lib Dem supporters, ranging from 76% to 79%.
Although the net zero commitment was legally enforced by Theresa May in 2019, the survey shows that only 48% of Conservative voters actively support the goal, with less enthusiastic backing compared to other parties.
Among Conservative supporters, a majority express a tendency to support net zero rather than strongly endorsing it, with 37% expressing opposition. Conversely, the majority of Reform UK voters oppose net zero, with 67% against and only 23% in favor.
The survey also highlights that personal beliefs about the impact of net zero influence support levels, as 75% of opponents anticipate negative personal consequences. Additionally, 39% of respondents feel that the government is not allocating sufficient resources to tackle climate change, while 57% of net zero supporters believe more action is necessary.
Despite the ambition of the net zero target, only 2% of the population believe the UK will achieve it by 2050. This skepticism extends to supporters of the goal, with only 28% expressing confidence in reaching net zero carbon emissions.
In response to criticisms from Farage and Reform UK, a Labour spokesperson emphasized the importance of clean energy for national security, cost reduction, and job creation. The party asserted a commitment to advancing clean energy initiatives and protecting domestic employment opportunities.
A Labour source criticized Farage’s stance on net zero as detrimental to workers, highlighting the potential risks posed by Reform UK’s energy policies to clean energy jobs and economic burdens on households and businesses. In contrast, Labour highlighted its efforts to reduce energy bills for millions of families and promote sustainable, domestic energy sources to support job creation and long-term cost reduction.