The Public Wants Wind and Solar Even Though Initial Costs are Higher

WPO Questionnaire/Methodology (PDF)
WPO Full report on poll (PDF)
WPO Press Release (PDF)

A poll conducted of over 20,000 people in 21 nations by WorldPublicOpinion.org found that the public strongly supports requiring businesses to be energy efficient and utilities to use alternative energy sources such as wind and solar, even if this increases the cost of energy and other products.  There was far less support, roughly half the support for alternative energy, for use of nuclear power, coal, or oil as energy sources. In all nations most people reject the view that shifting to alternative energy sources would hurt the economy, believing instead that it would save money in the long run.  Emphasizing increased costs in the short run has little impact on support because the public is optimistic that shifting to alternative energy sources will save money in the long run. A majority of the public in all nations, when presented two competing arguments about the cost of "making a major shift to alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar," takes the view that "with the rising costs of energy, it would save money in the long run."  About 2/3 of the public takes this optimistic view. In no nation does a majority of the public believe that a major shift to alternative energy sources "would cost so much money that it would hurt the economy."  The survey covered the US, China, India, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK as well as Indonesia, Nigeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, the Palestinian Territories, Poland, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

(Photo: Taylor Dundee)

WPO reports:

"It is quite remarkable that there is such unanimity around the world that government should address the problem of energy by emphasizing alternative energy sources and greater efficiency," comments Steven Kull, director of WorldPublicOpinion.org. "Equally remarkable is how little the governments around the world are following the public's lead."

WPO also reports that the public strongly supports having government require "utilities to use more alternative energy, such as wind and solar, even if this increases the cost of energy in the short run."  Even with the costs highlighted, majorities in all but two nations favor the idea, though the average level of support slips a bit to 69 percent.

Increasing Efficiency

The second most popular approach to the problem of energy is to put more emphasis on "modifying buildings to make them more energy efficient," and is favored by majorities in all nations. On average 74 percent favor this approach. Support ranges from 54 percent in India and the Palestinian Territories to 89 percent in Great Britain and France.

Respondents were also asked whether they favor the government "requiring businesses to use energy more efficiently, even if this might make some products more expensive." Highlighting the cost factor, as well as making the effort mandatory, means support is a bit lower--though, on average, a majority of 58 percent favors the idea.

Sixteen nations favor the idea, in 14 by majorities, led by Britain (79%) and South Korea (74%), along with very high support in Taiwan (80%), Hong Kong (71%), and Macau (71%).

The five nations that do not support the idea are all oil-producing countries. A majority is opposed in Azerbaijan (55%), as are pluralities in Russia (43%) and Indonesia (47%). Mexicans and Nigerians are divided.

Another possible energy conservation measure that would create costs for consumers receives more modest support. The idea of "having an extra charge for the purchase of models of appliances that are not energy-efficient" is supported by publics in 12 nations--in eight by majorities. However, it is also opposed in seven nations--in six by majorities. On average, 48 percent favor the idea while 39 percent oppose it.

Support for such a charge is highest in Kenya (74%), Italy (69%), Indonesia (61%) and France (60%). Majorities are also supportive in Taiwan (55%), Hong Kong (55%), and Macau (53%). The nations with a majority rejecting the idea include Thailand (64%), Argentina (62%), the Palestinian Territories (58%), Mexico (57%), Germany (54%) and the United States (52%).

Worldwide, individuals with higher income are more likely to support the measure than those with lower income.

Nuclear Energy

An unpopular approach to dealing with the problem of energy is to put more emphasis on building nuclear energy power plants. Publics in only nine nations favor this idea (8 majorities, 1 plurality). On average just 40 percent favor doing so.

The most enthusiastic nations are China (63%), Jordan (58%), Kenya (57%) and Nigeria (56%). Jordan and Nigeria have each announced plans to build their first nuclear power plants. China, South Korea and Argentina all have significant nuclear power production now. Italy closed down its nuclear energy program in 1988--following a referendum held after the Chernobyl disaster--and is now debating a resumption of the program.

On the other hand, only four nations favor putting less emphasis on nuclear energy. These include a majority in Germany (63%) and pluralities in Mexico (50%), Ukraine (49%), and Indonesia (40%). A plurality in Macau (44%) also favors less emphasis.

Coal and Oil

The least popular approach to addressing the problem of energy is to put greater emphasis on "building coal or oil-fired plants." Only seven publics favor doing so and only five of these are majorities. On average, 40 percent favor this approach.

The countries most positive about increasing emphasis on coal or oil-fired power are Kenya (69%), Jordan (63%), Argentina (60%), Nigeria (56%) and Turkey (52%). In Indonesia, a 50 percent plurality favors greater emphasis, while 34% do not (less, 24%; same, 10%). In Thailand, a 41 percent plurality wants more emphasis (less, 19%; same 13%).

Nearly half favor a greater emphasis on oil and coal in the Palestinian Territories (46%), Mexico (46%), and Azerbaijan (45%). But in these cases an approximately equal or greater number favors less or the same emphasis.

At the same time there is little support for putting less emphasis on coal and oil. Germany is the only country where a majority (62%) prefers this approach. On average, just 31 percent favor less emphasis.

However, nearly half favor less emphasis in the US (49%), France (46%), and Italy (46%). In each case, approximately the same number favors more or the same level of emphasis.
The poll is a collaborative research project of the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland with other universities throughout the world.