The claim comes after the trade body concluded its annual opinion poll tracker with YouGov. When asked how important it was for the UK to meet its net zero obligations by 2050, a majority of respondents (60 per cent) said it was important but that number has fallen in successive years from 69 per cent in 2024; 65 per cent in 2025 to now. Those responding by saying it was unimportant has grown from 21 per cent in 2024; 27 per cent in 2025 to 31 per cent in 2026. The gulf between the two sides falling from +48, to +38 now standing at +29.

Public opinion has also swung sharply behind action on the cost of energy bills rather than lowering carbon emissions. When asked to prioritise elements of the so-called energy trilemma, 57 per cent wanted action on energy bills, 22 per cent on energy security and just 10 per cent on carbon emissions, down from 15 per cent in 2025.

Commenting on the findings, Mike Foster CEO of EUA said: 

“This is a sharp reminder, a warning, of the importance that public opinion plays in the debate over net zero. While the majority still support the 2050 target, at the rate of attrition seen over the past couple of years, by 2030 the policy will not command the support of the public. The transition needs to be done with the public, not seen to be done to them.

“Whitehall needs to adapt its thinking; stop penalising people and making their lives harder and instead work with the grain of public opinion. Debates around the use of air con in hot weather and gas boilers in the cold should stop. Instead, let’s see how we can green cooling and green the gas we use in our homes too.

 “Let’s explore all options to decarbonise our homes rather than settling on the most expensive option of a heat pump, which only the wealthy can afford to buy and run.  Last year, £500 million of the public’s cash was spent on 50,000 heat pump installations, many for already wealthy households, at a time when the public at large is crying out for help to pay their own bills. A new Andy Burnham government has the chance to reset the dial; make peoples’ lives that little bit easier rather than harder. He should seize the opportunity with both hands and our industry looks forward to working with him and the public, to make progress.”

Note: All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,130 UK adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 8–9 July 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults aged 18+.