Last month the oxymoronically-named Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) sent out a survey (or, as its letter puts it, a “public Attitudes Tracker”). “Have your say, inform key decisions”, it says. Everyone receiving the letter is said to be “part of a scientific sample of over 20,000 households, designed to reflect the UK population as a whole. The study covers a range of topics including climate change, energy sources, and energy bills, and will inform key decisions made by the government and other public sector organisations”.

As so often seems to be the case, I find myself conflicted by this. On the one hand, I am pleased that the Government seems to be taking seriously the need to gauge public opinion regarding these very important issues. On the other hand, this means of proceeding is highly problematic. First, it relies on the 20,000 individuals truly being reflective of the UK population as a whole, and there must be real doubts that this will be the case. As always, those truly motivated by the issues are those most likely to respond. In this case, the lure of a £5 gift voucher “as a thank you” for participating, might not be enough to motivate people to set aside the 15 to 20 minutes it is said to take to complete. And the only real way to measure public opinion is to allow the issue to be tested at the ballot box, by abandoning the cosy “consensus” around climate change and net zero, and by giving the electorate a meaningful choice at the forthcoming general election. My concern remains that if the survey supplies the “right” answers, as desired by the estabishment, it will be trumpeted far and wide, and the results will be acclaimed as justifying the continuing net zero policy. If, on the other hand, the responses go the “wrong” way, with a great deal of scepticism being expressed towards the “project”, I suspect that it will be quietly dropped with not another word said. If and to the extent that such a result “informs” “key decisions made by the government and other public sector organisations” it will probably be with a view to working out how better to “nudge” us and how to “get the message across” more effectively. I should be very surprised indeed if the official response would be to water down or drop the net zero policies.

The survey is being carried out by a research company, Verian (previously called Kantar Public), who are described in the DESNZ letter as being “an independent social research organisation”. They seem to do very nicely out of their connections with UK officialdom – a press release on their website from January this year trumpets the fact that they have been appointed by the UK covid inquiry to “deliver a bespoke and targeted research project to collect first-hand experiences from children and young people as part of a large-scale research project.”I have no evidence at all they will not carry out their task “independently” and even-handedly, though I do wonder how easy it will be to avoid giving the Government the answers it wants when they presumably hope for more work from such a lucrative source. Furthermore, their world-view would seem to be illustrated by another report on their website, a report that would not seem to be out of place in the pages of the Guardian.

Leaving all that to one side, the survey can be found here, though you won’t be able to see it without a reference number and matching password. What questions does it ask, and how does the survey go about it?

It commences by collecting information about the household – how many adults aged 16 or over, and how many children aged under 16 in the household (I thought adults were aged 18 and over, but what do I know?). It wants to know your age (in bands: 16-19; 20-24; then in bands of ten years up to the final category of 75 and above. Your are also asked if you are male,female, or whether you “self-describe”.

Next, it asks some questions about “your general attitudes towards environmental issues”:

How concerned, if at all, are you about climate change, sometimes referred to as ‘global warming’?

Options for replies range through very, fairly, not very and not at all to don’t know.

The UK government is aiming to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2050.

This will involve significantly reducing emissions produced by our industries, transport, food, and homes.

Any remaining emissions will be balanced by actions that reduce greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere, such as planting trees.

Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about the concept of ‘net zero’?

Options for replies range from “never heard of it” through “hardly anything, but I’ve heard of this” to “a little”, “a fair amount” and “a lot”.

The next question is about renewable energy. This includes a number of different forms of energy, such as wind power, solar energy and biomass.

Do you support or oppose the use of renewable energy for providing our electricity, fuel and heat?

Response options range from “strongly support”, “support”, “neither support nor oppose”, “oppose” to “strongly oppose” and don’t know.

The same options are available to answer the next question, which is:

Generally speaking, do you support or oppose the use of the following renewable energy developments” – namely, on-shore wind; off-shore wind; wave and tidal; solar; and biomass (described as “Biomass – this refers to any plant or animal-based material (for example, food waste, branches, sawdust) or purposely grown crops which can be burned to produce heat and electricity”).

In the lead up to 2050, the way we heat almost all of our homes and buildings will need to change in order to reach the UK government’s Net Zero target.

Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about this?

The same options apply for answers as to the net zero by 2050 question.

The next question is about low-carbon heating systems.

By this we mean environmentally friendly heating systems which no longer rely on conventional gas central heating but instead use energy from low-carbon alternatives such as hydrogen, the sun, or heat pumps which draw heat from the ground, air or water to heat your home.

Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about low-carbon heating systems?

The same range of responses applies.

Now some questions about sources of energy.

Fusion energy is an experimental technology that works by fusing together atoms in order to release energy. The UK is exploring whether this technology could be used to generate zero carbon electricity.

Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about fusion energy?

From what you know, or have heard about fusion energy, do you support or oppose the UK developing this technology?

The same response options are available, from “strongly support” to “strongly oppose” and don’t know.

Carbon capture and storage is a technology that stops greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere.

It typically involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power stations or industrial facilities where emissions are high.

The CO2 is then piped to offshore underground storage sites, where it can be safely and permanently stored.”

Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about carbon capture and storage?

The same response options apply as with earlier similarly-phrased questions, from “never heard of it” to “a lot”.

From what you know, or have heard about it, do you support or oppose the use of carbon capture and storage to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

And now a question about hydrogen, which is used as a fuel in some industrial processes.

Hydrogen is not naturally available. This means it needs to be produced from other sources to be used as a fuel.

When produced in an environmentally friendly way, hydrogen can help to reduce the carbon emissions in industries, power generation, lorries and shipping.

Before today, how much would you say you knew about hydrogen already being used as a fuel in some industrial processes in the UK?

Before today, how much would you say you knew about the potential FUTURE uses of hydrogen to reduce emissions in some industries?

As mentioned, renewable energy covers a number of different forms, including wind power, solar energy and biomass. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

Namely:

Renewable energy industries and developments provide economic benefits to the UK

It’s important that renewable energy developments provide direct benefits to the communities in which they are located

Next:

Now imagine that there are plans for an on-shore wind farmto be constructed in your local area. How happy or unhappy would you be about this?

If you already have this in your local area, answer on the basis of how you feel about this now.

Options range from “very happy” through “fairly happy” “I wouldn’t mind either way” “fairly unhappy” to “very unhappy” with two additional options, namely “Not applicable – I don’t think this would be possible in my local area” and “Not applicable – I don’t know enough abut wind farms”.

Now imagine that there are plans for a solar panel farm to be constructed in your local area. How happy or unhappy would you be about this?

If you already have this in your local area, answer on the basis of how you feel about this now.

The same response options are available.

Now some questions about solar panels in the home.

Would you consider having solar panels installed in your current home to generate electricity, in the next few years?

Response options range from “definitely” through “probably” “probably not” to “definitely not” with two other options, namely “I already have them installed” and “not applicable – not my decision to make” (plus don’t know).

Which, if any, of the following might make you personally more likely to consider installing solar panels?”

You can select all or any of the following options:

More information on solar panels and the benefits and drawbacks

Better financial support for installing solar panels

Better financial incentives to sell extra electricity to national grid

A community initiative which encouraged others in my area to do it too

Guidance on the planning procedures and rules in my local area

A guarantee scheme to cover any faults or damage (for example, a government backed scheme to cover repairs)

Information about trusted, reliable installers

Not applicable

Don’t know.

Now imagine that there are plans for a nuclear power station to be constructed in your local area. To what extent would you support or oppose this?

If you already have this in your local area, answer on the basis of how you feel about this now.

The same response options are available as to the question about wind farms

And now some questions about energy use in the home.

How much thought, if any, would you say you give to saving energy in your home? 

Response options range from “A lot” through “a fair amount” and “not very much” to “not at all”.

How often, if at all, do you personally do any of the following?

The following being:

Leave the lights on when you are not in the room

Boil the kettle with more water than you are going to use

Wash clothes at 30 degrees or lower

Try to keep rooms that you are not using at a cooler temperature than those you are using

Leave the heating on when you go out for a few hours

Response options available are: always, very often, quite often, occasionally, never, not applicable, don’t know.

Over the last three months, how worried, if at all, have you been about paying for energy bills (gas/electricity)?

Available response options are: very worried, fairly worried, not very worried, not at all worried, not applicable or don’t know/prefer not to say.

Which, if any, of the following actions have you taken in recent months because of the increase in the cost of your energy bills?

Available response options are:

I’ve missed important journeys to save money on fuel or fares

I’ve reduced my electricity/heating usage to an uncomfortable level

I’ve reduced my electricity/heating usage, but not to an uncomfortable level

I’ve used a food bank

I’ve skipped meals

I’ve fallen behind on paying energy bills

I’ve fallen behind on paying other household bills or rent/mortgage

I’ve taken out loans or used credit cards more often

I’ve used friends or family for money

Other (please type in)

None of the above

Don’t know.

Thinking about your gas and electricity supplier, how satisfied or dissatisfied have you been with the following aspects of energy supplier(s)? If you have different suppliers for gas and electricity, please think about your overall opinion.

The aspects being:

That they have given you a fair deal

The accuracy of your bills

The customer service you have received

Next:

What impact do you think that the UK’s move to renewable energy sources might have on people’s energy bills in the UK…?

The question is split into two parts:

…In the short term (1-2 years)

and

…In the long term (10 or more years)

Options in each case are the cost of energy bills will go up/down/no change/don’t know.

Smart meters are a type of gas and/or electricity meter which automatically send meter readings to your energy supplier and usually come with a monitor or screen (digital in-home display), that provides information about your energy usage. Smart meters also allow prepayment customers to top up their credit online and over the phone.

Does your household have a smart meter?

Response options are: yes/no/don’t know.

The next question is about shale gas. Shale gas is natural gas found in shale, a type of rock which does not allow the gas to escape.

Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is a process of pumping water at high pressure into shale to create narrow fractures which allow the gas to be released and captured. The gas can then be used for electricity and heating.

Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about hydraulic fracturing for shale gas, otherwise known as ‘fracking’?”

From what you know, or have heard, about extracting shale gas to generate the UK’s heat and electricity, do you support or oppose its use?

Response options range from strongly support to strongly oppose, with a don’t know option.

The next question is about Small Modular Reactors.

These are new types of nuclear reactors, similar to the ones in existing nuclear power stations, but on a smaller scale. They can be used for electricity generation, to provide industry with heat and power, or to provide energy to UK communities not connected to the national gas grid.

Before today, how much, if anything, did you know about Small Modular Reactors?

Permitted responses range from “never heard of it” through to “a lot”.

How much do you trust each of the following to provide accurate information about new and emerging energy sources such as fusion energy and hydrogen energy?

The sources in question being:

Newspapers or newspaper websites

TV news such as BBC, ITV, Sky, C4

Social media (for example, Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit)

TV and radio documentaries

UK Government

Scientists/Scientific organisations

and

Charities, Environmental or Campaign groups

Finally, the survey asks a few questions about you and your circumstances. Given that some of them might be considered personally sensitive, the option not to answer is usually available.

Does your household own or rent the accommodation where you live?

If you answer that you rent, they want to know who your landlord is (eg local authority, housing association, employer, relative or acquaintance, employer of a family member, private landlord).

Do you (and your household) live in…

Options being house or bungalow (detached/semi-detached/terraced/end terrace); self-contained flat or apartment; caravan or other mobile or temporary structure; other.

What is your highest qualification?

Please include your highest educational, professional or vocational qualification.

Options: degree/other/none/don’t know/prefer not to say.

How often do you use the internet?

Options range from all the time to never.

What is your current working status?

What is your ethnic group?

The next question is on income. This includes earnings from employment or self-employment, income from benefits and pensions, and income from other sources such as interest from savings.

It is important for us to collect this so we can understand how it influences people’s experiences. All the information collected in this survey is completely confidential and will only be used for the purposes of producing statistics.

Which of the following best describes your total annual personal income before tax?

Answers in various bands starting at less than £15,000 to more than £150,000.

How well would you say you are managing financially these days?

Would you say you are…

Options vary from living comfortably to finding it very difficult, with don’t know and prefer not to say also options.

My father-in-law is still waiting for his £5 “thank you” voucher. Perhaps he gave the wrong answers, and they aren’t inclined to thank him.

In conclusion, the survey looks impressively comprehensive, by the standard of such things, with non-leading questions and multiple response options available (though the questions and information supplied about carbon capture and storage and hydrogen seem unduly optimistic with no mention of costs, lack of feasibility, and other down-sides). To that extent I am reasonably positive about it. However, the reservations I expressed at the head of this piece remain. Will the survey’s results be genuinely representative, and will the responses really inform Government policy choices? Will its outcome survive a general election and a likely change in Government? Or will it simply be quietly shelved, more taxpayer money having been wasted on yet another aspect of net zero?