A new study, Winds of Change: Regional Australians’ Real Views on Renewables, reveals 67% of Australians, whether they live in cities or rural areas, are supportive of renewable energy projects.
While the number of Australians who are supportive of initiatives in their own communities is slightly lower, the report nonetheless shows a clear majority.
The research, conducted by communications firm Porter Novelli Australia and Quantum Market Research, shows most Australians are optimistic and prepared for a clean energy future, with 59% recognising the positive impacts renewable projects will have on their community. In addition to environmental benefits, there is anticipation of lower energy bills, job creation, and local economic growth.
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Despite this, ongoing disinformation campaigns have overshadowed the supportive voices. These campaigns have led to the consensus that less than half (49%) of regional people favour renewable energy projects, when the true level of support is actually much higher (66%). The research also found that a disturbingly high proportion of people have been convinced of widely debunked disinformation, such as the idea that offshore wind farms harm whales.
The research revealed that a staggering 43% of Australians are unaware of renewable energy projects in their state or region, and that one in five (16%) don’t know about any renewable projects at all, despite the hundreds of projects underway across Australia.
Porter Novelli CEO Rhys Ryan says the key to a smoother transition towards net-zero is effective early engagement with rural communities.
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“Porter Novelli has spent years working alongside regional Australia across agribusiness, public health, for government initiatives and launching renewable energy projects. Recently, we’ve grown increasingly frustrated by the oversimplified view that regional Australians are against renewables,” he says.
“So-called NIMBYism is a perfectly rational response to the sudden announcement that there will be a major industrial project happening next door. People oppose developments in every city all the time. Demanding to be consulted about what is happening in our own communities is not the same as ideological opposition to a low-carbon future.
“As Porter Novelli supports renewable energy companies and regional communities through the energy transition, we wanted to uncover how more projects could be switched on—not with costly conflict, but with genuine benefits for everyone involved.”
