Kiwis Back Renewables Over Fossil Fuels, Polling Reveals – WWF-New Zealand
Joint media release from WWF-New Zealand and Lawyers for Climate Action NZ
New nationwide polling shows strong public support for renewable energy over fossil fuels, growing concern about New Zealand’s climate backsliding, and widespread unease that a return to offshore oil and gas exploration could expose the country to trade and legal risks.
An independent survey commissioned by WWF-New Zealand and Lawyers for Climate Action NZ, conducted by Horizon Research, shows that New Zealanders increasingly see renewable energy as the best solution for lowering household power bills.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents (65%) say the Government should prioritise renewable energy over fossil fuels, while 66% believe expanding renewable energy would help bring household electricity bills down.
By contrast, only 17% of New Zealanders think expanding gas use would lower power bills, despite the Government arguing gas is needed for energy security.
“New Zealanders are crystal clear they want cheaper power and cleaner energy, and they know that hunting for more gas won’t deliver either. Propping up sunset fossil fuel industries makes no economic sense and won’t secure our energy future,” says WWF-New Zealand’s CEO, Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb.
“Every dollar we spend trying to find and subsidise more gas in Aotearoa is a dollar that should be spent on clean, affordable energy,” says Lawyers for Climate Action NZ’s Executive Director, Jessica Palairet.
“New gas exploration won’t help with New Zealand’s energy security. We know that New Zealand could have an abundant supply of renewable energy now with existing technology – while the best-case scenario for new gas discoveries wouldn’t yield results until the mid-2030s.”
The polling also reveals that more than half of respondents (53%) are concerned that weakening climate policies could expose New Zealand to reputational or legal risks under trade agreements with the European Union and United Kingdom.
“The Government’s own legal advice has warned that repealing the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration risks breaching our Free Trade Agreements with the EU and UK. This isn’t theoretical – it’s a real legal and economic risk,” says Palairet.
“Continued climate backsliding won’t only harm our environment and pass a huge burden to future generations – it puts our international reputation and exporters at risk. It’s deeply concerning the Government is choosing to wilfully ignore this,” says Kingdon-Bebb.
The survey found widespread dissatisfaction with the Government’s overall approach to managing climate change.
Only 20% of respondents believe the Government is doing a good job tackling climate change, while 54% say it should be doing more. More than two-thirds (67%)say they are concerned about climate change.
Most expressed negative feelings about how the current Government is managing climate change, with ‘concerned’, ‘frustrated’, and ‘disappointed’ the words most commonly chosen.
“Kiwis are demanding better from those elected to lead us,” says Kingdon-Bebb. “They want solutions that cut household costs, protect New Zealand’s future, and restore our credibility on the world stage – not outdated thinking and misguided extractive economics.”
“Climate action is an opportunity. Most of our key trade partners understand this, and New Zealand risks being left behind if we keep doubling down on fossil fuels instead of investing in clean, affordable energy.” says Palairet.
