Scottish election poll – how energy bills, net zero and climate featured in voters’ minds as they cast their ballots
New Scottish election polling shows how energy bills, net zero and climate feature in voters minds
By Alasdair Johnstone
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New polling from More in Common for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) conducted in the days running up to the elections for the Scottish Parliament [1] found that tackling the cost of living was the top issue (50%) determining how people planned to vote. This was followed by the NHS/healthcare, selected by just under half (48%), and immigration (19%).
Of the cost-of-living pressures, energy bills (62%), food shopping (63%) and fuel (petrol/diesel) (39%) prices were the top three voter concerns.
On climate, only 7% of those who said they were intending to vote Reform and 5% of those planning to vote for the Scottish Conservatives cited reversing policies introduced to reduce emission and tackle climate change as a reason, suggesting the parties' anti climate policy positioning are not a key driver of their support.
On net zero, scientifically the only way to stop climate change, just under two-thirds (62%) of voters said they thought Scotland should at least try to hit its 2045 target with just over a fifth (22%) 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 emission” [2].
Just over half (52%) of voters say they support the Scottish Government’s 2045 net zero target, with just under a third (29%) opposing. Support was much stronger among those who plan to vote SNP (79% support), Labour (64%) and Lib Dems (72%). There was an even split among those planning to vote Conservative, 46% supportive and 46% opposing (with 8% don’t knows). Reform UK voters were the most anti the target with 67% opposing.
When asked about whether it is ‘essential’ to reach net zero in order to tackle climate change, just under two fifths (39%) said it is essential, compared to just over a third (36%) who said it is not. The difference was starker when looking at which parties people planned to vote for, with SNP (53%), Labour (50%) and Lib Dem (60%) saying it is essential and Conservative (58%) and Reform (76%) saying it is not essential.
On energy, Reform UK voters appeared more supportive of key net zero technologies, backing onshore wind (51% vs 42% oppose), offshore wind (65% vs 26% oppose) with an even split on solar farms (46% support and 45% oppose). But these technologies were much more popular with the population a large with widespread support for onshore wind (70%), offshore wind (74%) and solar farms (70%).
Laura Anderson, Senior Associate at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said:
“It’s clear this was a cost-of-living election, with frustration over the rising cost of energy, food and fuel continuing to put pressure on household budgets. With a second major energy crisis in just a few years, this time linked to President Trump’s conflict with Iran, volatile oil and gas prices, alongside climate extremes damaging crops, are driving increasingly unaffordable bills.
“The calls we’ve heard to expand drilling in the North Sea would do little to bring prices down, because oil and gas prices are set by wars, geopolitics and international markets. Reaching net zero means reducing our reliance on these volatile fossil fuels and shifting towards clean, homegrown energy to tackling climate change, which is already damaging harvests and increasing food prices.”
Analysis has found that the total cost of Scotland’s economy from the energy crisis came to £11 billion [3]. In addition, across the UK 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 [4] since the start of the first energy crisis. Experts have said that investing in clean energy [5] 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 [6].
Notes to editors:
1. Polling conducted by More in Common between 21st – 27th April 2026 of 1,060 Scottish Adults (age 16 and above).
2. Financial Times: Net zero is ‘not a political choice’ says UN climate body lead scientist
3. ECIU: Cost of the Fossil Fuel Crisis – Scotland
4. ECIU: Household energy costs up to £4,800 during back-to-back energy crises
5. IEA: IEA, Energy security in energy transitions
6. 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