Climate concerns dominate public investment priorities

Four of the top five investment priorities for the British public are climate related, a new poll has found.

Flood defences, solar infrastructure and wind developments topped the list when Ipsos Mori carried out a survey this summer. The results of the global poll found these were considered more salient for people in Britain than in the rest of the G8.

Electric vehicle (EVs) charging infrastructure was found to be jointly as deserving of funds as railways in this country, with 37% selecting it – compared to a 27% average for the G8.

However, the poll, commissioned by the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA), found investment in nuclear infrastructure less palatable for British respondents, with just 16% selecting this technology. The figure was lower still for the G8, at 12%.

In Britain, 35% are satisfied with their country’s infrastructure, compared to 26% who are dissatisfied.

GIIA chief executive Lawrence Slade told Utility Week the results showed a growing understanding among the public that action was needed to tackle climate change and that previously niche areas such as EV charging infrastructure were now being seen as a necessity.

He pointed to the 79% that agreed investing in infrastructure would create new jobs and boost the economy, yet 64% believed not enough was being done to meet infrastructure needs.

He said: “The fact that flood defences is the top priority shows that people are linking the impacts of climate change with the means to tackle them. The sentiment is there, for the public and for investment. What’s missing are the policies to make this a reality.”

He admitted that “the challenge is clear for nuclear” but said that a higher profile for small modular reactors had the potential to overcome lingering public concerns about the cost and scale of new plants.

The survey did not gauge reactions to carbon capture & storage or hydrogen projects, where Slade there was clear investor appetite but public awareness was still limited.

He urged governments across the world to take forward the message from the report at COP26.

“As world leaders come together in Glasgow to consider next steps in the battle to address climate change, this survey should embolden decision makers to put the environment at the heart of their infrastructure investment plans. Global citizens are far from satisfied with their infrastructure today and want to see improvements, with many placing climate-related infrastructure such as water supply, renewable energy and flood defences at the top of their list.”

The survey also showed that Britons are overwhelmingly supportive (61%) of private investment in infrastructure if it means the country gets what’s needed, with only 9% disagreeing.