An overwhelming majority of the public want the government to help fossil fuel workers into secure green jobs, a new survey has found.
The survey, run by Neon and Opinium in collaboration with the Centre of Labour and Social Studies (Class) found that 71 per cent of respondents supported the government taking responsibility for fossil fuel workers’ transition to green jobs on the path to net zero.
Class director Ellie Mae O’Hagan said the results show the public “want decisive action to tackle climate change”.
Speaking to the Big Issue, O’Hagan pointed out that the survey results put the public further ahead than the government in attitudes towards a just transition.
“Addressing climate change is not about whether the public want it or not, it’s actually about whether politicians want to do it or not.In that respect, the inaction so far is a political failure,” she said.
Currently, there is little in the way of support for oil and gas workers who wish to transition into the renewable energy sector.