8% more UK people think that priority should be placed on tackling environmental issues than the economy according to today’s Guardian/ICM poll on political and environmental opinions. This somewhat contradicts press pundits, who have been suggesting that green issues will be sidelined as recession looms.
As for green taxes, there appears to be a high level of support, in principle, with 63% supporting them and only 35% opposing them. However, in practice, this finding is rather alarmingly contradicted by only 30% of people actually wanting them introduced now. In addition, faced with a “would you pay more for green?” question, the gap widens further, only 19% of people would actually pay more for an environmentally friendly product, while a majority, 58%, would choose a cheaper alternative, even if it was worse for the environment. This marked “gulf between thought and deed” characterises a number of recent reports about environmental beliefs and intentions.
As for other differences, the survey also shows that, as in previous polls, women are rather more concerned about the environment than men. Interestingly, it finds that richer people give the environment less, not more, priority than everyone else. It also shows a significant north-south divide regarding the economy: people in the South East are 14% more concerned about it than people in Scotland.
Investment in renewable energy businesses and products is at an all time high, according to another report, by New Energy Finance. Working for the United Nations, they refer, worringly, to a Klondike Gold Rush mentality. Solar Twin Ltd warned about this problem last year. “The sleaze that we have uncovered in certain areas of the European renewable energy industry is staggering.” said Barry Johnston, Managing Director of Solar Twin today.
“As innovators, we have been affected by repeated attempts to manipulate key regulatory processes, the blatant operation of double standards, and discriminatory use of state funding to benefit only certain influential segments of the solar thermal industry instead of all of it, fairly. Apparent interference with the awarding contracts is also rife. It might even be time for a formal investigation by market competition regulators.” he commented.
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