Majority of Europeans Prefer Domestic Green Energy Over Foreign Imports

A new poll has discovered that 77% of Europeans in six major nations prefer to invest in domestic renewable sources rather than import fossil fuels from the United States and Russia. The poll, which was conducted by research agency Opinium on behalf of the Secure Energy Project, took responses from participants in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, and the UK. The findings show a high preference for energy solutions that are cheap, clean, and less geopolitically dependent.

The results show that the European public majority is supportive of energy independence from domestic renewables, with around half of the population strongly agreeing to this action. Even in the countries where the response was split, such as Germany, the support was high at 70%. The results also show that trust in long-term climate action goals remains strong with the public despite the continued international uncertainties.

Foreign energy suppliers of fossil fuels are not trusted. Russia and the United States are not trusted as good providers of energy, according to the survey. Most significantly, 83% of respondents did not trust Russia's energy assurances, with Poland showing the highest levels of skepticism. This may be due to historical and current fears of Russian interference in Polish domestic affairs. At the same time, the U.S. did a little better but also drew suspicion from 57% of respondents, only 19% of whom believed it to always meet Europe's energy requirements.

Such emotions come amid the European Union's ambitious push to eliminate Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027. Even as the move forms part of broader climate and security goals, there is growing apprehension that it could open the door to more dependence on American liquefied natural gas (LNG), with its own drawbacks. Opponents argue that switching suppliers doesn't address the underlying issues of price risk, political risk, and ecological harm associated with fossil fuels.

Energy specialists who contributed to the Secure Energy Project and environmentalists advocate shifting in the long term towards increasing domestic renewable capacity and reducing energy demand. They suggest that such policy would not only protect Europe from future supply disruptions but also support climate targets and reduce geopolitical vulnerabilities. The survey results underpin this thesis, echoing a public interest in policies favoring secure, local, and sustainable energy systems over maintaining dependence on imported fossil fuels.

The survey also discovers regional differences in opinion. Poland's heightened cynicism towards Russia aligns with the country's political history of tension and manipulation of energy supplies. Spain and France, by contrast, were somewhat more assured about European-directed energy policy, but overall direction was still well down the route of renewables and less foreign dependency.

While Europe speeds up its transition away from fossil fuels, the results of this survey offer timely confirmation of the public's backing for renewable energy investment. The findings are useful for the European Commission and governments among the member states to consult when they further plan their energy transition strategy and financing. The findings also underscore the necessity for transparent, citizen-backed planning to manage the continent's future energy transition.

In short, the majority of Europeans would rather their countries invest in locally produced renewable energy rather than importing fossil fuels from powerful world nations. This is a shift in public opinion towards energy sustainability and independence. EU's current energy goals, including the phasing out of Russian fossil fuels and looking into the importation of U.S. LNG, now have to be aligned with European public concern over trust, security, and climate responsibility. Investing in clean infrastructure, energy efficiency, and curbing consumption is the preferred path for most Europeans, according to the latest facts and figures.

Source and Credits:
Source: Euro News
Credits: Jithin Joshey Kulatharayil, Senior Content Writer at KnowESG