England election poll – how energy bills, net zero and climate featured in voters’ minds as they cast their ballots

New polling from More in Common for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) conducted in the days running up to the local elections [1] found the top issue determining voting intention (39%) was the cost of living followed by the NHS/healthcare, selected by just under a third (29%), and affordable housing and immigration (on 18% each). 

Of cost-of-living pressures, energy bills (62%), food shopping (61%) and fuel (petrol/diesel) (39%) prices were the top three voter concerns.

On climate, only 12% of those who said they were intending to vote Reform cited reversing policies introduced to reduce emissions and tackle climate change, suggesting the party’s climate sceptic views are not a key driver of support.

On net zero, which is scientifically the only way to stop climate change, two-thirds (68%) of voters said they thought the UK should at least try or be doing everything we can to hit its 2050 target with just under a fifth (19%) saying we should not be trying at all.  Scottish scientist Professor Jim Skea, the world’s most senior climate scientist, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, recently said “it’s chemistry and physics that if you want to stop global warming, you have to achieve net zero emissions” [2]. 

Two-fifth of voters (44%) believe it is essential to reach net zero in order to stop climate change, with a third (36%) believing it is not essential and 20% don’t know. But among Reform voters only a fifth (20%) say it is essential with more than two-thirds (70%) believing it isn’t for halting climate change. 

On energy, support for renewable energy sources remains strong across the board, with the public backing onshore wind (70% vs 15% oppose), offshore wind (72% vs 13% oppose) and solar farms (73% vs 15% oppose). Despite the leadership of Reform UK’s hostility towards renewable energy, a majority of those planning to vote Reform back many of these technologies, supporting onshore wind (56%), offshore wind (66%) and solar farms (59%). 

Alasdair Johnstone from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU)said: “The Russian invasion of Ukraine and now the US conflict with Iran have driven up the price of oil and gas heaping costs on energy, food and driving bills. Voters are clearly fed up with things not getting better, but a large part of this relates to the decisions of Trump and Putin whose actions push up the price of oil and gas for us in the UK.  

“While anti-net zero sentiment isn’t a driver for Reform voters, a majority of Reform voters back net zero technologies like wind and solar. Reaching net zero emissions is scientifically the only way to stop climate change, but burning less oil and gas not only reduces emissions, it also means switching to clean technologies that aren’t reliant on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz or across the Atlantic.” 

Analysis has found that typical household dual-fuel energy costs will be £4,800 higher over five years since the start of the gas crisis in 2021, with high wholesale gas costs accounting for around £3,600 [3] since the start of the first energy crisis. Experts have said that investing in clean energy [4] and achieving net zero is central to avoiding future energy crises.  

Food prices are on track to rise 50% above pre-crisis levels by November this year, driven in part by the volatile oil and gas markets and climate change [5]. Three of England’s worst harvests on record have happened in the past five years as a result of extreme wet, hot and dry weather.
 

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Polling conducted by More in Common between 21st – 27th April 2026 of 1,441 English adults (aged 18 or above) living in areas with local election on 7th May 2026.
 
2. Financial Times: Net zero is ‘not a political choice’ says UN climate body lead scientist
 
3. ECIU: Household energy costs up to £4,800 during back-to-back energy crises
 
4. IEA, Energy security in energy transitions
 
5. ECIU: Food prices set to rise by 50% since start of cost-of-living crisis

For more information or for interview requests:

George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, t: 020 8156 5305, m: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net