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  • Overview
  • Sep '23
    Labour Party confirms plans for GB Energy ahead of 2023 conference
  • YouGov: There is a generational divide in support for more oil and gas extraction
  • Ipsos polling: Renewable energy infrastructure is a priority for Britons
  • More in Common: Oil & gas are no longer seen as reliable energy sources
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Energy Independence & Energy Security

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    There is a clear appetite for a secure, self-reliant energy sector in the UK, based on a foundation of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. Polling shows that UK public are demanding a move towards energy independence, with most supporting renewables and energy efficiency measures to achieve this – even if it leads to higher energy bills.

    The Russian Invasion of Ukraine brought these opinions into focus. In the wake of this conflict, people in the UK feel an increased sense of energy insecurity, and a sense of urgency to reduce reliance on Russian oil & gas. As a result, the conflict highlighted preferences for UK-based renewables and a faster net zero transition.

    In turn, insulation and renewables are seen as key to reducing reliance on Russian oil & gas and the majority are also willing to accept increases on energy bills to move away from imported energy.

    Only 8% think increasing fossil fuel production is the best way to increase energy security, most do not support further extraction of fossil fuels in the UK, and many want to see extraction winding down. However it should be noted that support differs generationally. Younger age groups opposition to UK oil and gas extraction is much clearer than amongst those aged 65 and older, many of whom support it.

    Irrespective of this, there appears to be a clear demand for self-sufficiency from the UK public now. Riding on this wave of support, climate communicators are likely to find that narratives of energy independence are will appeal across different segments of British public, including those who are right-leaning. However, caution should be taken when drawing on the Russia conflict to promote climate policies, as practitioner insights suggest this can backfire.

  • Policy Insight 28th September 2023

    Labour Party confirms plans for GB Energy ahead of 2023 conference

    The Labour Party has pledged to create Great British Energy, a new, publicly-owned clean energy company to make the UK ‘energy independent’ and deliver 100% clean energy by 2030.

    • Source: The Labour Party
    • Date: 28th September 2023
    Opinion Insight 27th September 2023

    YouGov: There is a generational divide in support for more oil and gas extraction

    Polling by YouGov on behalf of Global Witness shows a lack of support for fossil fuel production, and a clear age gap in perspectives on oil and gas extraction.

    • Only 8% think increasing fossil fuel production is the best way to increase energy security.
    • Just 10% believe more oil, gas and coal is the best way to reduce energy bills.
    • 42% overall would prefer to wind down North Sea oil and gas production, compared with 33% preferring to exploit all economically viable supplies
    • Among those aged 50-64, support for oil and gas extraction was at 39%, and this was higher at 57% in the 65-plus age group.
    • Support for oil and gas extraction was much weaker among younger generations, with only 17% of 18 to 24-year-olds and 21% of 24 to 49-year-olds backing this option.

    Depending on which party (Labour or the Conservatives) is in power after the 2024 election, demographic differences like this may become even more prominent: a Labour government that secured the support of younger voters might be in a position to move significantly faster in terms of the social license to phase out oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

     

    • Source: The Independent
    • Author: Rebecca Speare-Cole
    • Date: 27th September 2023
    Opinion Insight 25th September 2023

    Ipsos polling: Renewable energy infrastructure is a priority for Britons

    Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are among the most popular forms of energy generation among Britons. Among energy sources, solar and wind are regarded as producing the lowest emissions, and having the greatest impact when it comes to tackling climate change.

    Ipsos polling shows that Britons feel split about the current quality of renewable energy infrastructure in the UK (solar/wind), with 48% rating it as very/fairly good, and 39% rating it as very/fairly poor. 

    The majority (70%) feel that infrastructure in Britain has not been adapted enough to cope with future changes in climate, and 65% of Britons feel that infrastructure isn’t being built quickly enough. Britons are also less resistant to increasing spending on infrastructure than citizens of other countries, even if it means higher taxes or more government borrowing. According to the public, solar energy infrastructure should be among the highest priorities for Britain’s investment (40%). 

    In fact, a separate poll by Ipsos shows that renewable energy features highly among the priorities for Britain, with wind and solar featuring as one of the top five “most in need of improvement” areas of Britain’s infrastructure, alongside roads, schools, hospitals, courthouses, as well as housing, and water supply/sewerage.

    From the Climate Community 19th September 2023

    More in Common: Oil & gas are no longer seen as reliable energy sources

    For a long time, an argument made in favour of fossil fuels (and against supposedly ‘intermittent’ renewables) was that oil and gas could provide a secure, reliable source of energy.

    But as familiarity with renewables (and confidence in them) has increased, so have perceptions of the reliability of solar and wind power. At the same time, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the instability that subsequently rippled through the global energy system, doubts are growing among the public that oil and gas are in fact secure, reliable sources of energy.

    This is a significant shift – and could be what ultimately underpins a faster transition away from oil and gas. At a time of global insecurity, energy sources that can provide reliable (and ‘hoegrown’) energy become even more attractive. As Luke Tryl, UK Director at More in Common writes, message testing is showing renewables, not oil and gas, winning out in terms of being a secure and reliable source of energy:

    There has been a shift in how we view energy security towards renewables – message testing on anti-oil and gas arguments finds strong support for the idea they’re getting more expensive – & particularly for Loyal Nationals (Red Wall voters) the dependence on Putin worries people.

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