In our third instalment of the Net Zero Action Rankings, the latest research of over four thousand people explores how UK families are feeling about the journey to Net Zero, their readiness to make changes to their home and lifestyle and how these attitudes have changed over the past year.
Our findings reveal that:
- Majority of British homeowners (80%) want to make changes to their homes, but transition needs to be simple and affordable to encourage them.
- Climate change continues to be a pressing issue, but trumped by cost of living, quality of the NHS, the economy, and immigration.
- However, report reveals an increase in optimism with the change in Government – with a 10% increase in belief that new Government is committed to net zero target.
“Our research is clear - the nation is ready and willing to do more to help the UK reach net zero, but they need support to make their journey simple and affordable."
Dan Rosenfield, Managing Director of Centrica New Business and Net Zero
The Impact of Climate Change
The results show that climate change awareness and concern are still sky-high, with strong backing for actions to tackle it head-on.
For the British public, climate change is the fifth most important issue, trailing behind the cost of living, quality of the NHS, state of the economy, and levels of immigration.
In 2019, the UK Government passed legislation to commit the UK to achieving net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. The new Labour Government has fully committed to the net zero target - making the decarbonisation of the power system by 2030 one of its core missions.
Our polling shows that the public are very supportive of the energy transition and of building more solar and onshore wind generation.
The below graph shows the support for constructing more of the following electricity generation types, with 85% of the public support building more solar power.
The general election of this year has boosted net zero hopes, with a 10% increase in the proportion of the public which think that the new Government is committed to the net zero target. Additionally, there has been a 16% drop in the proportion of the UK who think the Government is not doing enough.
But while there has been a slight increase in optimism with the new Government, pessimism overall abounds; 61% of the nation lacks confidence that the UK will reach net zero by 2050.
Opening the door to Britain's homes
26% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from heating and personal transport. Solutions include upgrading Britain’s existing housing stock (8 million homes are currently below EPC C), switching to electric vehicles and public transport, and installing low-carbon heating options like heat pumps.
Making this energy transition happen depends on new technologies being made simple and affordable.
79% of the public say that they are willing to make changes in their own homes to tackle climate change. Insulation is the most popular green upgrade (74%), closely followed by triple glazing (55%). This suggests that homeowners are opting for more familiar and lower-cost options when it comes to home upgrades.
Going Green in a Cost of Living Crisis
The cost of living crisis has dominated UK homeowners’ lives for the past three years and inhibited their ability and willingness to make expensive upgrades to their homes.
A major factor limiting the uptake of green improvements is a need for improved information and tailored advice about the technologies and whether they suit their home. When asked why they did not improve their home’s energy efficiency, 40% of the public cited the up-front cost.
Another key barrier is that the public lacks awareness of the Government support available to help mitigate the upfront cost and finds the grant landscape confusing.
Although the public support the Net Zero target and a majority of homeowner’s are willing to make changes to their homes in order to tackle climate change - the public need improved information and financial support to take action and install upgrades in their homes.
