UK public backs net zero but doubt delivery plan

The survey of 2,153 UK adults conducted for the professional membership organisation, The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP), found:

·       50% of the public believe cutting carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 is important – scoring it between 7 and 10 on a scale between 0 and 10.

·       Less than half that amount (21%) believe it is not important (with a score between 0 and 3).

Yet despite continued support from the public for climate action overall, the research suggests that more needs to be done to communicate a credible delivery plan:

·       Just 12% of the public think that the UK government has set out a clear pathway for achieving net zero by 2050 (with a score between 7 to 10). 

Sustainability professionals need clarity on net zero plan

Even amongst sustainability professionals, doubt remain that Government has set out a credible roadmap to deliver net zero. In a survey of nearly 650 ISEP members:

·       Just over a third (36.3%) of sustainability professionals agreed the government has set out a clear path to net zero by 2050, despite very strong support (87%) for the climate target.

The polling comes ahead of the UK Government’s seventh carbon budget, due to be debated in parliament in the coming days, which sets the emissions reduction target for the period 2038-2042, under the 2008 Climate Change Act. Since 2019, when the UK adopted its legally binding net zero target for 2050, carbon budgets have played a major role in mapping the pathway to delivery.

The survey findings suggest the government faces a dual challenge: maintaining public support for long-term climate goals while providing a clear and more economically credible roadmap for achieving them.

However, attitudes differ sharply across the political spectrum on whether reaching net zero by 2050 is important. Among Green voters, 77% support the target alongside 71% of Labour voters and 66% of Liberal Democrat voters. Support falls significantly among Conservative voters, at 34%, and drops to just 12% among Reform UK voters.

ISEP deputy CEO Martin Baxter said: “Despite recent political fragmentation surrounding climate policy in the UK – this poll shows achieving net zero by 2050 continues to have public support. Decarbonisation remains a critical priority, economically and socially – with twice as many people supporting the UK’s climate target as opposing it.

“And that support is holding, even amid a cost-of-living crisis, rising energy prices and growing concerns around energy security intensifying scrutiny about how the transition to net zero will affect household finances, jobs and economic growth.

“Yet the one thing virtually all voters agree on, no matter which political stripe, is scepticism about whether the UK has a clear plan to reach net zero.

“While sustainability experts have widely welcomed the latest Carbon Budget, it is clear the Government has a job to do to communicate a credible delivery plan to both the public and professionals.”

Attitudes are more consistent across the political spectrum about whether the government has set out a clear path to reach net zero by 2050. Even among Labour voters, just 17% said there is a clear path to net zero (with a score between 7 to 10). While 11% of Lib Dems voters, 9% of Conservative AND Green voters, and 5% of Reform UK voters.

YouGov Poll results

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2,153 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 26th - 27th April 2026.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

State of the Sustainability Profession survey

ISEP surveyed members [March and April] as part of the research for its annual State of the Sustainability Profession report, due for publication in July. The same questions were posed to professionals that were put to the public in the YouGov poll.