Poll: majority of Scots considering voting Reform back climate action

Of Scots who said they would consider voting for Reform UK, nearly three in five (61%) support action to tackle climate change. 

A similar proportion (57%) of those planning to vote Conservative support “the Scottish Government introducing policies to reduce carbon emissions to try to tackle climate change” with half (48%) who would ‘consider’ voting Conservative also supporting that position.

The only group with more voters opposed to than supportive of policy to tackle climate change were those already committed to vote for the Reform UK party at 46%, with support for action to tackle climate change amongst this group at 27%. 

The survey conducted by More in Common for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit [1], asked respondents whether they would ‘consider’ voting for the main political parties standing the forthcoming Scottish election in addition to their ‘actual’ voting intention. 

For other parties, support among their current and potential supporters for efforts to tackle climate change remains consistently high. The vast majority (87%) of those considering voting for the SNP support action to tackle climate change, alongside 80% of those planning to vote SNP. The recent change in position by the SNP, to now be supportive of new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea [2], could risk putting them at odds with a big chunk of their voters. 

Among Labour supporters, over three-quarters (78%) of those considering voting Labour support action (with 14% opposed), as do 77% of those planning to vote Labour.

Respondents were also asked about whether reaching net zero is necessary to stopping climate change with just over two-fifths (44%) agreeing that it is compared to a third (34%) who think it isn’t. 

Notably, despite their support for action on climate, just over half (54%) of those who would consider and just under half (47%) of those who plan to vote Conservative think it’s not essential to reach net zero emissions in order to stop climate change.  Likewise, just under half (49%) of those who would consider and nearly two thirds (64%) of those who plan to vote Reform UK do not think that reaching net zero is necessary. 

In a recent interview with the Financial Times [3], Scottish academic and now chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Professor Jim Skea said, “It’s chemistry and physics that if you want to stop global warming, you have to achieve net zero emissions, and that isn’t a political choice”. 

Laura Anderson, Senior Associate at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said: “Even Scots considering voting for anti-net zero parties want to see action on climate, but whereas politicians may not be, the science is very clear that reaching net zero emissions is the only way to stop climate change and bring our climate back into balance. That’s just a fact.

“If we’re to stop the flooding, the drought and the prices on supermarket shelves getting ever worse, then we have to hit net zero emissions.” 

A majority of people in Scotland support action to tackle climate change the new polling shows. In total nearly three in five (58%) support efforts by Scottish Government to implement policies to reduce emissions in order to tackle climate change, compared to 15% who oppose, with 20% undecided. 

Recent polling also found that nearly two in three of Scottish voters (65%) opposed any suggestion that the UK Government should follow US President Donald Trump’s advice when it came to energy policy [4]. 

The polling also suggests that most Scots accept the scientific consensus on climate change. Overall, nearly three fifths (59%) say climate change is happening and caused by human activity, while 24% believe it is happening but part of natural cycles, and 7% do not think it is happening at all.

Even among those voting for party’s associated with a sceptical position on climate change, views are mixed. Among those who would consider voting Reform UK, over half (58%) say climate change is caused by human activity, compared to 25% who do not. Among Conservative voters, over half (53%) say it is human caused, with 37% believing its caused by natural cycles. Only a third (33%) of those intending to vote for Reform think that climate change is caused by human action with more (44%) believing that humans are not to blame but the Earth’s natural cycles. 

Acceptance is higher among Labour and SNP voters, with 81% of Labour voters and 71% of SNP voters saying climate change is driven by human activity.

ENDS

[1] Polling conducted by More in Common of 1,003 Scottish adults between 15th February to 3rd March 2026

[2] Scottish rule party backs controversial oil and gas fields (Politico, 2nd April 2026)

[3]Net zero is ‘not a political choice’ says UN climate body lead scientist (Financial Times, 13th Feb 2026)

[4] Britain should not follow Donald Trump’s energy policy, says Scots (ECIU)

Notes: 

In addition to this polling, Scots were asked to what extent they would support or oppose the construction on pylons in Scotland to distribute electricity from where it is generated to where it is consumed.

A plurality of 44% supported this with 16% opposed. 

This was a similar case when asked about potential trade-offs between visual impact and practicalities of energy distribution. 18% thought that pylons should be installed because they visually impact Scotland’s natural countryside/environment. Whereas 48% thought pylons should be installed because they generated high-skilled jobs in renewable energy generation for Scots even if there is a visual impact. 

A majority of Scots (42%) see renewable energy and clean technology as the biggest growth opportunity in Scotland. This was followed by oil and gas (24%), AI (22%) and healthcare (22%). 

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