Support for wind farms declines but solar still king: poll

Gas also took a 4-point hit in net favourability, amid a concerted campaign from the green groups and some state Labor governments to outlaw it.

Gas remains the fourth-most-popular energy source with 53 per cent support, followed by hydrogen on 48 per cent, nuclear (35 per cent), and coal (33 per cent).

Of all the energy sources polled, nuclear, which is being pushed by the opposition as part of the clean energy mix, underwent a 2-point increase in net favourability.

As with the previous poll, there is significant support to lift the ban on nuclear power with 45 per cent in favour and 41 per cent opposed.

The poll sampled 1109 voters online from Friday to Sunday. It has a margin of error of 3 per cent.

Net zero pessimism

Despite the support for clean energy sources, the poll found almost three-quarters of voters believe the world will not achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

And, of the voters who were aware of this month’s COP28 climate change summit in Dubai, a firm majority believed the United Nations talkfest would make no difference towards reducing global emissions.

The poll finds 72 per cent believe the world will not achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, while just 18 per cent believe the target will be met. Another 10 per cent were unsure.

After much wrangling over the wording in the final communiqué, the COP 28 summit agreed to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner”.

The wording was deemed so weak that the price of carbon on the European Union Emission Trading Scheme Futures fell to its lowest point in 14 months.

The poll found 47 per cent of voters were aware that the COP28 had taken place. Of these voters, just over one-third, or 37 per cent, felt it would make a difference to reducing global emissions, while 58 per cent believed it would not

Among all voters, those who were aware of COP28 and those who were not, 32 per cent felt the summit would make a difference and 50 per cent felt it would not.

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen defended the outcome of COP28 on Monday as “very significant”.

He said the transition away from fossil fuels, the commitment to accelerate action in this critical decade, the resolve to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the tripling of renewable energy and doubling of energy efficiency rates amounted to “a huge step forward”.