Just one in 10 people here think Northern Ireland will be able to meet its ambitious net zero emissions target by 2050, according to a new report.
However, four in five people polled would support new onshore and offshore wind, solar and hydro energy projects being developed in the area they live in, according to the research conducted by communications firm Cavendish Consulting, alongside pollster LucidTalk.
The survey sampled some 1,050 members of the public.
The Northern Irish public are “highly sceptical” about whether the Executive can reach its by 2050 target, when compared with GB.
However, more people here are in favour of green energy schemes on the whole, compared to GB.
And only half of people here said they want government to pursue net zero policies if doing so doesn’t have a negative impact on their own household finances.
Solar topped the polls in public support in Northern Ireland, while offshore developments showed the largest back in Belfast.
Young and old are both the most “optimistic” about reaching net zero, with under-24s and over-65s are the only groups where less than half think it’s very unlikely that targets will be met.
Nuclear power ranked in the bottom three for public support in all parts of Northern Ireland, and is the only energy source where the opposition outweighs the support (41% net support vs 47% net opposition).
“The Department for the Economy has made achieving net zero by 2050 and growing the green economy one of its four key strategic priorities,” Paul McErlean, managing director of Cavendish Ireland, said.
“This research shows there is huge public backing in Northern Ireland to deliver new renewable energy projects.
“However, at a time of high energy costs and squeezed household finances, it’s also clear that a lot of people don’t want the transition to net zero to come at a cost to them. If the sector is going to win public support, they’ll need to present a strong and clear economic case and demonstrate the significant benefits that reaching net zero will deliver.”
Meanwhile, new research will be carried out into the future of Northern Ireland’s electricity market and our ability to hit ambitious government targets.
The Department for the Economy is now seeking a third party to carry out “research and modelling associated with the delivery” of hitting our agreed 80% renewable energy target in just a little over five years.
The industry here has remained sceptical about Northern Ireland’s ability to increase its renewable energy production to that target, amid a slow planning system and other barriers.
The sector says we now need around 50 major schemes, shovel-ready, by 2026