Polling finds five UK climate groups, with costs a shared concern

A poll by Lord Ashcroft finds Britons fall into five groups on climate action, from people who want faster progress to those who think the threat is overstated.

The groups differ on how quickly the UK should pursue Net Zero, a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero, and who should pay.

Many worry that climate policies will raise household bills, even among those who support action.

Affordability and independence from foreign energy suppliers ranked ahead of tackling climate change for many respondents.

The poll also found that more people favoured new oil and gas exploration than opposed it, while only one in three backed Labour’s ban on new exploration.

The UK has approved the Jackdaw gas field, and the government is expected to approve drilling at Rosebank, though the source says a decision on Rosebank was still pending.