Situation in Japan Changes the Mindset of Britons on Nuclear Power
Support for building more nuclear power stations in the UK has dropped by 12 points since November 2009.
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(04/21/11) -
The ongoing crisis in Japan appears to have affected the way people in Great Britain feel about nuclear energy, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample of 2,023 British adults, 43 per cent of respondents support building more nuclear power stations in the UK, down eight points since July 2010 and 12 points since November 2009. Conversely, the level of opposition to this idea has risen to 37 per cent, up six points in less than a year.
Across Britain, 45 per cent of respondents believe the UK should avoid nuclear energy and focus on other carbon-free sources of energy, while 38 per cent would further pursue nuclear energy capabilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The percentage of respondents who support either of these two statements has flipped since last year.
At least two thirds of Britons remain “very concerned” or “moderately concerned” about nuclear waste management (77%), health risks for communities that are close to a nuclear power station (69%), an accident at a nuclear power plant (69%), and nuclear technology falling into the hands of extremists (68%).
Earlier this year, the German government suspended the extension and expansion plans of nuclear power plants and the Swiss government has suspended the approval for new construction of nuclear power plants. Three-in-five respondents (60%) believe the British government should be taking similar steps, and two-in-five (41%) consider nuclear energy as more dangerous than other forms of energy.
Analysis
The situation in Japan has led to a noticeable shift in the way Britons feel about nuclear power. A majority of respondents backed an expansion in November 2009 and July 2010, but support has dropped noticeably. Also, the notion of nuclear power being a better alternative to reduce greenhouse gases is not as popular as last year. Many Britons are now embracing other carbon-free sources of energy.
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CONTACT:
Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com
Methodology: From April 8 to April 11, 2011, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 2,023 randomly selected British adults who are Springboard UK panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.2%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
