Liberal Democrat voters lead call for action on climate change and also back nuclear as part of a balanced energy mix
24 May 2010
Voters of all three main political parties support nuclear power and are in favour of changes to the planning system to make it easier to build new nuclear plants, according to a major poll by YouGov for EDF Energy.
The strong signal of support from voters across the political spectrum comes ahead of tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech which is reported to include an Energy Bill.
Nearly two thirds (64%) of all voters now say nuclear power is needed as part of a balanced energy source for the UK, according to the poll commissioned by EDF Energy. The net agreement figure of +53% is now higher than in any of the previous four years that EDF Energy has carried out its annual tracker poll.
The large poll of 4,300 people revealed strong support among voters of all three major political parties, including the Liberal Democrats.
Nearly three out of every five Liberal Democrat voters (58%) believe nuclear energy needs to be part of the future energy balance, compared with just 15% opposed. That compares with the support of 74% of Conservative voters and 64% of Labour voters.
There is also support across the political spectrum to reform planning regulations to build new nuclear stations, with 48% agreeing and 18% disagreeing.
Among Liberal Democrat voters 42% agree planning regulations should be changed to make it easier to build nuclear power stations on the same sites as old ones. Only 25% disagree.
The poll also revealed that more Liberal Democrats than Conservative or Labour voters believe urgent action against climate change is needed. Among Liberal Democrats 43% say climate change is a serious and urgent problem and radical steps must be taken now. This compares with 31% of Labour voters and 18% of Conservatives. A further 31% of Liberal Democrats say climate change is real but there is time to work out the steps to take. This compares with 33% of Labour voters and 27% of Conservatives.
Responding to the poll’s findings, EDF Energy Chief Executive, Vincent de Rivaz, said:
“Our latest poll recognises the scale of the energy challenges facing the UK and the need for a low-carbon, eco-friendly economy as outlined by the Coalition Government. It is vital these issues are addressed. EDF Energy remains resolute in its commitment to a truly sustainable economy.
We are pleased to see strong public support across voters from all three major political parties in favour of new nuclear build. We also note that opposition to new nuclear build has continued to fall. This strong public support is further reflected by the clear backing for planning reform to facilitate investment in low carbon technologies, including nuclear.
We need urgent action if we are to meet the UK's carbon emissions targets and address the looming energy gap. We believe nuclear power is the lowest cost low carbon solution and can be built in the UK without subsidy. Therefore, it must be part of an affordable, clean and secure generation mix.”
EDF Energy plans to build four new nuclear reactors in the UK, with two at Hinkley Point in Somerset and two at Sizewell in Suffolk.
Support for new nuclear was high in both regions, with 69% of people in the East of England agreeing nuclear is needed as part of a balanced mix. In the South West 65% agreed and just one in ten disagreed.
The annual EDF Energy/YouGov energy policy opinion poll is one of the largest polls of its kind. Polling was completed between 10 and 13 May 2010, immediately after the General Election.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The full results of the poll are attached for use in articles. Please reference EDF Energy as the company who commissioned the poll if the results are used in coverage
Poll Highlights
Consensus among voters of all three major political parties including the Liberal Democrats that nuclear power must be part of the future energy balance
- More Lib Dem voters believe action against climate change is needed now than Conservative or Labour voters
· Nearly three out of every five Liberal Democrat voters (58% vs 15%) believe nuclear energy needs to be part of the future energy balance with net agreement at +43. About three-quarters of Conservatives voters (74% vs 7%) and nearly two-thirds of Labour voters agree (64% vs 12%).
· Around half of Lib Dem voters (47%) are in favour of new nuclear power stations being built to replace old power stations (vs. 32%), with net support at +15. 63% of Conservative voters (vs. 18%) and 50% of Labour voters (vs. 26%) agree.
· Almost half of Lib Dem voters (49%) disagree it is important to stop building nuclear power stations in the UK, more than double who agree (23%). 63% of Conservative voters (vs.13%) and 48% (vs. 19%) of Labour voters also disagree.
· 42% of Lib Dem voters agree planning regulations should be changed to make it easier to build nuclear power stations on the same sites as old ones. Only 25% of Lib Dem voters disagree, meaning net agreement of +17. 58% of Conservative voters (vs. 12%) and 42% of Labour voters agree (vs 19%).
· Liberal Democrats are much more likely to think that climate change is a major problem which needs action now (43%). Conservative voters are far more likely to be climate change agnostics and deniers with 43% saying it is not yet clear whether climate change is happening, and 10% say they don’t believe climate change is happening at all.
General results:
Overall trend of strong support for nuclear power remains steady with more people in favour of it than opposed to it
· Nearly two thirds (64%) now say nuclear is needed as part of a balanced energy source for the UK (vs. 65% last year, vs. 62% in 2008 and vs. 59% in 2007 – net agreement up to +53 from +42 in 2007).
· Opposition to nuclear as part of the energy mix continued to fall with only 11% disagreeing that the country needs nuclear energy as part of the energy balance (vs. 17% in 2007 and 13% in 2008 and 2009).
· A majority (52%) remain in favour of nuclear power stations to replace old ones (vs. 46% in 2007). Net support has grown to +28% in 2010 compared to +15% in 2007.
· A clear majority of the British public (52%) disagree that it is important to stop building nuclear power stations (vs 49% in 2007). Only 18% agree (vs 24% in 2007).
· There have been marked improvements in the favourability rating of nuclear power over the past four years, going from slightly positive in 2007 to clearly positive in 2010. Asked whether they viewed different forms of power favourably, respondents have the following responses (net figures show "favourable" minus "unfavourable"):
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Wind farms | +67 | +66 | +64 | +61 |
| Nuclear power stations | +4 | +15 | +14 | +16 |
| Gas-fired power stations | -5 | -5 | -9 | -6 |
| Coal-fired power stations | -28 | -12 | -25 | -21 |
The majority of the public continue to believe future energy generation methods must be low-carbon, recognising nuclear produces very little carbon dioxide
· Net agreement that the best solution is to replace old nuclear power stations, and also expand renewables and wind power has grown to +50% from +39% in 2007
· Net agreement that nuclear energy produces very little CO2 is +42% (vs +41% in 2007)
Increasing support for planning reform
· 48% agree that planning regulations to build new nuclear stations on the site of old ones should be eased (vs 43% in 2007). Only 18% disagree (vs. 26% in 2007 and net agreement has almost doubled to +30% from +17% in 2007)
A huge majority continue to recognise the nature and scale of the UK energy challenge, although there is a downwards trend in concern about energy and interest in climate change since 2008
· 80% are interested in where Britain’s electricity will come from in future (vs. 82% in 2009).
· 90% believe Britain should aim to be self sufficient in energy (unchanged from 2009).
· When asked about the biggest challenge facing Britain and the Government, including the economy, only 41%, claimed it was energy, ahead of only transport (energy is down from a peak of 72% in 2008).
· 62% are aware of the looming energy gap (unchanged from 2009).
· Interest in climate change has gradually declined from a peak of 80% in 2006 to 62% now (71% in 2009).
· There continues to be a growing number of climate change agnostics: people who are not sure it’s happening and who think scientists are divided: 25% in 2007, 24% in 2008, 27% in 2009 and 33% now.
About EDF Energy
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around one-fifth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. The company provides power to a quarter of the UK’s population via its electricity distribution networks and supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customers. It is the number one supplier of electricity to major business in the UK.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants would generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
Through Our Climate and Social Commitments EDF Energy has launched one of the biggest environmental and social programmes of any UK company. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Read, Reduce, Reward and Team Green Britain.
EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. Following the integration with British Energy in 2009, the company employs nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK.