King's College London

Four in 10 (41%) Britons say they’d be more likely to vote for a political party if it committed to take strong action on climate change, while the same proportion (40%) say the government’s decision to delay or cancel some net zero policies earlier this year has worsened Britain’s reputation abroad – far higher than the share who believe (13%) it has improved the country’s standing, according to a new survey.

But despite this, the public are more likely to say this decision was right (46%) rather than wrong (35%), and a third (33%) also say they’d prefer a party that aimed to slow down climate action. A fifth (20%) say neither a strong nor slower approach would make a difference to how they vote.

Carried out by the Policy Institute at King’s College London, Ipsos UK and the Mission Zero Coalition, the research follows this week’s COP28 Outcomes Summit, at which Theresa May and Ed Miliband gave their reflections on negotiations in Dubai, with attendees including ambassadors and high commissioners from a range of embassies, as well as industry and NGO leaders.

The public prefer strong action to address climate change rather than slowing down

41% of Britons say they’d be more likely to vote for a party that said it would take strong action against things that cause climate change, even if this increases costs of oil and gas production and requires increased investment in renewable energy supplies.

However, 33% say they’d be more likely to vote for a party that said it would slow down actions against things that cause climate change, because it is not necessary or we can’t afford the additional costs right now while there are other priorities.

Those who voted Labour in 2019 (53%) are much more likely than those who voted Conservative (34%) to prefer a party that took strong action on climate change, while the situation is reversed when it comes to who would prefer a party that took a slower approach (Con: 50% vs Lab: 26%).

The impact of delaying or cancelling some net zero policies

Four in 10 (40%) Britons think the government’s decision to delay or cancel some net zero policies in September has worsened Britain’s reputation around the world, compared with three in 10 (29%) who think it has had no impact on the country’s standing and just over one in 10 (13%) who say it has improved it.

Yet despite a clear perception that this move has damaged Britain’s standing beyond its borders, the public are more likely to say the government was right (46%) rather than wrong (35%) to do so, with 2019 Conservative voters (71%) more than twice as likely as their Labour counterparts (32%) to feel this was the correct decision.

Nevertheless, those who voted Conservative in 2019 but have now switched party or are undecided (28%) are far more likely than Conservative loyalists (13%) to say the government’s decision was wrong.

Where climate change fits in the public’s policy priorities

Most Britons see climate change as an important problem facing the UK. 46% describe it as the single or one of the most important problems, 39% say it is important but not the most urgent, and 12% say it’s not very or at all important.

Of the top issues Britons say will be very important in deciding their vote at the next election, climate change/reaching net zero ranks equal 11th (23%), while protecting the natural environment comes 17th (20%).

Healthcare/NHS/hospitals (57%) and inflation and the rising cost of living (55%) stand out as the top two priorities for the public.

Chris Skidmore MP, Chair of the Mission Zero Coalition and chair of the Net Zero Review, said:

“This new data demonstrates that the public support action on climate change and will support a party that commits to action and doesn't row back on delivering cheaper and greener energy. It is also telling that four in 10 people think the UK's international standing has been damaged, after the government's decision to approve new gas and oil.

“The Net Zero Review demonstrated that net zero is an opportunity to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, bring billions of pounds of inward investment to the UK, and to regenerate industrial communities. But these key positive benefits need to be told to the public, just as they are with the Inflation Reduction Act in the US. We need a net zero engagement strategy to help inform the public about what net zero means and how it will make their lives better, and leave them richer and warmer with better housing, heating and more money to spend.”

Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute at King’s College London, said:

“The public’s top priorities going into an election year are the typical core concerns of the NHS and economy – but this doesn’t mean climate change won’t play a key role. Nearly half the population think it’s one of the most important issues facing the country and, perhaps more importantly in the context of an election campaign, there are very strong views on either side – it has the potential to be an important wedge issue.

“Four in 10 say they’d be more likely to vote for party taking strong action, but a third say they’d be more likely to vote for a party that slows down on climate action. This presents a risk of divides being emphasised and encouraged during the campaign on an issue where we need people to come together, and, as the public recognise, where backtracking presents a risk to the UK’s international reputation.”

Rachel Brisley, Head of Energy and Environment at Ipsos UK, said:

“The British public continue to be concerned about climate change but there’s a clear split between those who see it as a key concern that will affect their vote in the next general election, and those who don’t. The same goes for support for the Prime Minister’s decision to delay or cancel some net zero policies, although few consider this decision has improved our global reputation.

“Climate change is showing signs of becoming a wedge issue with loyal Conservative and Labour voters being at opposite ends of the spectrum, but the undecided voters are more split, which may affect decisions over the coming months.”

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Read the full report, Climate change and political priorities: what the British public think.

Survey details

Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,083 GB adults aged 18-75. Interviews were conducted online from 7-9 December 2023. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.