Survey Reveals Over-65s Are Most Likely to Push Back Against Net-Zero Goals

Despite pressure from Reform UK and some Conservative factions to scrap national climate targets, a clear majority of the British public still backs the country’s commitment to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. That’s the key takeaway from a recent YouGov poll of over 2,200 UK adults commissioned by E.ON.

The question was straightforward: Do you support the UK’s legally binding net-zero target for 2050? This goal, introduced under Theresa May’s leadership in 2019, followed scientific warnings about the devastating effects of allowing global temperatures to rise beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Out of 2,239 respondents, 65 per cent said they support the net-zero goal. Only 23 per cent were opposed, while the rest were unsure. When asked whether the UK should speed up decarbonisation efforts during this decade, support was even stronger—67 per cent said yes, while 19 per cent said no.

“Despite the continued cost-of-living crisis, and the backdrop of geopolitics, voters clearly continue to see the importance of lowering the UK’s carbon emissions,” said E.ON Infrastructure Systems UK’s chief commercial officer, Vijay Tank.

But support isn't uniform across the board. The older the demographic, the less enthusiastic the response. Among those aged 65 and older, 30 per cent said they oppose the 2030 decarbonisation goals, and 36 per cent were against the 2050 net-zero target. Compare that with the younger generation, particularly those aged 18 to 24, where opposition is significantly lower.

And then there's the political divide. Among voters who supported Reform UK in the 2024 general election, opposition to climate targets was significantly higher: 52 per cent are against the 2030 target, and 58 per cent oppose the 2050 goal. Conservative voters were less resistant but still divided, with 30 per cent opposing the 2030 milestone and 39 per cent pushing back against the long-term 2050 commitment.

Reform UK has promised to abandon the net-zero goal altogether, arguing that responsibility lies more with major emitters, such as China and the United States. The party has also championed a return to coal and fracking, claiming such moves would create jobs. Notably, around half of its donations through May 2024 reportedly came from oil and gas interests.

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party’s leader, has echoed some of these positions. She argues that sticking to the 2050 deadline would be too expensive, increase costs for families, and threaten energy security.

However, independent analyses paint a different picture. The Climate Change Committee’s "Balanced Pathway" for reaching net zero by 2042 is now estimated to require just 0.2 per cent of GDP annually, a significant drop from the 0.5 to 1 per cent projection made back in 2020.

The trade body CBI recently stated that, on decarbonisation, “inaction is indisputably costlier than action” as global green economy competition intensifies and physical climate risks materialise.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned that the cost of doing nothing far outweighs the cost of climate action. As the race to dominate the global green economy intensifies, failing to invest now could leave the UK behind and exposed to mounting climate risks.

Beyond abstract targets and economic forecasts, the public wants to see real, local benefits from climate action. The E.ON and YouGov survey also asked people which public services should receive priority funding to help cut emissions. At the top of the list were public transportation and hospitals. Schools and other government buildings also ranked high.

Interestingly, decarbonising homes came in third, suggesting that people understand the role housing plays in emissions. The Climate Change Committee has recently advised lawmakers that reducing electricity bills for households, small businesses, and public institutions is crucial for lowering emissions. They also emphasised the importance of making electric vehicles and heat pumps more accessible, while investing in green jobs in underserved regions.

“Through local investment in clean energy, we can lower bills and emissions and improve energy security by reducing our reliance on expensive fossil fuels,” said Tank.

The message from the public is clear: net zero remains popular, and people want to see tangible progress, especially in their communities. Whether policymakers will listen is another question altogether.