Coal and oil are still the world’s main energy sources, but there’s massive public support for a green future. According to a new survey, people across all ages, political standpoints, education and geographies are in favour of a shift to green energy.
The backing for green energy is clear. In the largest survey of attitudes towards green energy ever conducted, 82 per cent of people favour a world being fully powered by green energy.
We’re at a tipping point. Green energy has become cheaper than black
Henrik Poulsen, CEO of Orsted
The support comes from all surveyed age groups, educational backgrounds and countries. The survey also revealed strong support across all political viewpoints. The Green Energy Barometer, conducted by Edelman Intelligence, is based on interviews with more than 26,000 people across 13 countries.
Henrik Poulsen, CEO of Ørsted, formerly Dong Energy, and one of the biggest offshore wind turbine manufacturers in the world: “We’re at a tipping point. Green energy has become cheaper than black, and the newly released Green Energy Barometer shows overwhelming public support for a shift from black to green. We owe it to the planet and to future generations to transform our energy systems from black to green. And with the economics and public opinion now supporting a shift to renewable energy, there’s no reason not to speed up the transformation.”
U.K. in support
The survey shows that in the U.K., the support for a shift to renewable energy mirrors the global average at 82 per cent.
Matthew Wright, managing director of Ørsted UK, said: “Our vision is to help create a world that runs entirely on green energy, and this survey reveals that this ambition has overwhelming support, irrespective of age, nationality and political viewpoint. There is a pressing need to take green action and it is encouraging to see we are united in this goal. Renewable energy is green, independent and economically viable and, as demonstrated by the Green Energy Barometer, has public support from all demographics in the U.K. The barriers have been removed; green energy is now cheaper than black, so we are in a better position than ever to take action against climate change” .
Growth and job creation
Concern about climate change is a major driver of support of green energy, with 69 per cent of people globally being concerned about the impact of climate change. However, backing for renewables is also heavily rooted in a range of economic and societal benefits. More than seven in ten of those surveyed believe that it will boost economic growth and create new jobs if their respective countries were to build and produce more green energy.
Download the full Green Energy Barometer here: orsted.com/barometer
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