A new poll by Ipsos MORI shows that young people are among the strongest supporters of offshore wind – and the majority aren’t in favour of fracking.
According to the survey, commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Economic and Social Research Council, 85% of 16-24 year olds support the development of offshore wind farms, whereas only 47% within this age group are in favour of carbon capture and storage, and a mere 42% support fracking.
The survey shows that younger people are generally more supportive of offshore wind than adults of all ages. 76% of all adults support offshore wind, and 51% were in favour of carbon capture and storage.
Ipsos MORI also asked whether young people think offshore wind has a positive effect on the UK’s economy. 70% said it did (compared to 58% of adults of all ages), whereas only 53% thought that fracking would prove beneficial.
When asked which technology has a positive effect on tackling climate change, 78% of young people cited offshore wind (compared to 60% of adults of all ages), whereas only 25% cited fracking.
RenewableUK’s Director of Offshore Renewables, Nick Medic, said: “It’s heartening to see fresh evidence of strong support for offshore wind energy among young people. This is an increasingly important technology for our future and it’s clear that the young people of Britain recognise this.
“As the UK is the world leader in this dynamic sector, the enthusiasm of this age group for offshore wind will help us to secure the enormous economic prize – something that young people were also positive about in this survey.
“It’s partly to do with open-mindedness and better levels of awareness among young people. They view old-school fossil fuels less favourably than renewables, and they’re right to do so, on the grounds of long-term cost as well as the damaging impact of high-carbon fuel sources on the environment, now and for generations to come”.
Press release, March 14, 2014