Public Support for Climate Action Remains Strong But Eroded by Cost Concerns: New Survey Reveals
A new landmark survey conducted by Climate Outreach and More in Common, encompassing over 7,000 participants across England, Scotland, and Wales, has revealed a complex picture of public opinion on climate change. While a strong majority continues to support climate action and ambitious government leadership, growing anxieties about the financial implications of the transition to net-zero are beginning to erode public confidence. The findings underscore the urgent need for clearer communication from political leaders, industry, and campaigners about the costs and benefits of climate policies, ensuring a fair and equitable transition for all.
The survey affirmed widespread acceptance of the climate crisis, with three-quarters of respondents acknowledging its importance and two-thirds calling for robust government action. Only a small minority (4%) deny the reality of climate change. However, a significant shift in public perception has emerged regarding the economic impact of net-zero policies. While half of those surveyed still believe the transition will benefit the UK economy, a concerning one-fifth now anticipate economic harm, a significant increase from the 10% who held this view in 2024. This rising apprehension about economic consequences is further underscored by the fact that three-quarters of respondents believe climate policies will increase their personal expenses rather than generate savings.
This growing unease surrounding the costs of climate action poses a threat to the long-standing public consensus on the need to address the crisis. Luke Tryl, Executive Director of More in Common, warns that while Britain’s support for climate action has been remarkably resilient, it is now being undermined by a sense of disillusionment. He emphasizes the need for greater transparency from those in positions of power and influence, urging them to effectively communicate what has been achieved, what remains to be done, how individuals can contribute, and how the transition can be implemented fairly. This call for improved communication echoes the consistent findings of the UK government’s own polling, which consistently demonstrates that at least three-quarters of Britons are concerned about the climate crisis.
Interestingly, the survey highlights the potential of nature-focused messaging to broaden public engagement with environmental policies. An overwhelming majority of respondents expressed pride in environmental initiatives like tree planting and national park preservation, a sentiment particularly pronounced among Conservative and Reform UK voters. Nearly nine in ten respondents across the political spectrum agreed that climate policies should also prioritize the protection of nature and wildlife. This finding suggests that framing climate action within the context of nature conservation could be a powerful way to bridge divides and build broader consensus.
Despite the growing anxieties about costs, independent economic analyses continue to demonstrate that inaction on climate change would be significantly more expensive than implementing net-zero policies. Experts at CBI Economics argue that delaying the transition would not only cripple the UK’s competitiveness against global rivals like China and the EU but also expose the nation to escalating climate-related risks, both physical and transitional. These risks are not theoretical; climate scientists warn that, based on current trends, large portions of the planet could become uninhabitable by the end of the century, with no nation immune due to interconnected global systems, particularly food supply chains.
Contrary to misleading narratives about the exorbitant costs of net-zero, the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) has repeatedly stated that a well-managed transition could be achieved at a cost of 1% of GDP or less annually through 2050. Their latest recommendations, covering the period up to 2042, outline a pathway achievable with an annual investment equivalent to just 0.2% of GDP. While debates persist regarding the optimal distribution of these costs among businesses, the public sector, and individuals, the CCC’s analysis underscores the affordability of a well-planned transition.
The amplification of misleading claims about the cost of the transition by right-wing politicians from the Reform UK and Conservative parties, aimed at discrediting climate science and undermining the UK’s legally enshrined 2050 net-zero target, represents a concerning trend. These attacks on the net-zero goal, originally established in law in 2019 under Theresa May’s government, contradict the widespread parliamentary support for the target, with nearly nine in ten MPs still backing this crucial long-term ambition according to polling conducted this spring. The challenge remains to effectively address public concerns about the cost of the transition while countering misinformation and maintaining momentum towards a sustainable future.