Support for renewables at all-time high as concern over climate change rises

The vast majority of the public (81 per cent) now say they support the use of renewables to generate energy, as the level of concern over climate change has risen to 70 per cent, according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc).

Data from its latest public attitudes tracking survey showed that support for renewables was particularly high for people with incomes over £35,000 (91 per cent) and those aged 55-64 (86 per cent).

Overall, opposition to renewables was very low at 4 per cent, with only 2 per cent strongly opposed, and support was lowest among those aged 65 and over (74 per cent) and social renters (73 per cent).

The tracker also found that respondents were more likely to see climate change as a result of human activity compared with natural processes.

Four in 10 (43 per cent) said they believe it is caused mainly by human activity, compared with only 10 per cent who said they think it is mainly down to natural processes. Forty one per cent said they believe it is caused by a mixture of human activity and natural causes.

On fracking, the survey found that the majority of people who offered an opinion were opposed to the process (31 per cent) while 19 per cent supported it.

On nuclear, 38 per cent supported nuclear energy compared with 23 per cent who were opposed.

On smart metering, one in five respondents (20 per cent) claimed to currently have a smart meter installed in their home.

Of those who have a smart meter, 66 per cent reported having an in-home energy display or energy monitor installed in their home as well, and 52 per cent stated that they refer to it at least occasionally.

Three in 10 (29 per cent) claimed they were not offered an in-home display at the time of their smart meter being installed.