Support for nuclear power in Australia has fallen since Opposition leader Peter Dutton announced his nuclear power policy in 2024, the latest National Climate Action Survey reveals.
The survey, in its fourth year and conducted by Griffith University’s Climate Action Beacon in partnership with the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub (MCCCRH), asked more than 4,000 respondents a wide range of questions on their attitudes to climate change, extreme weather, and different energy options.
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According to Monash University Professor Libby Lester, director of MCCCRH, “The survey is a peerless, independent source of information about Australians’ climate actions, attitudes and beliefs as the nation—and the world—embarks upon societal transformations to a sustainable low carbon future.”
Key initial findings from the survey include:
- More Australians want the existing ban on nuclear power to remain. In 2023, 51% wanted to keep Australia’s ban on nuclear energy. In 2024, that had risen to 59%. The numbers who were against bans on nuclear power fell from 34% in 2023 to 30% in 2024.
- Women are more likely to want to keep the current ban on nuclear. When asked about keeping the existing Australian ban on using nuclear power, only 18% of women were in favour of lifting the ban. In contrast, twice as many men (35.9%) wanted the ban lifted. Two-thirds (66%) of women wanted the ban to stay, as opposed to just 51% of men.
- More people say risks of nuclear power far outweigh the benefits. Those who said the benefits of nuclear power far outweighed the risks fell from 24.5% support in 2023 to 22% in 2024. Those who said the risks of nuclear power far outweighed the benefits rose from 21.9% in 2023 to 26% in 2024.
- Most respondents would not want a nuclear power station in their area. More than half (54.8%) of respondents would be very or extremely concerned if a nuclear power plant was placed near them. Only 11% said they’d be comfortable with a nuclear power plant nearby. Even fewer wanted a coal mine near them (10.8%). Conversely, people felt more comfortable with solar or wind in their area, with 54% having no concerns with wind farms. This rose to 65% for solar farms.
- Most Australians back financial assistance for coal mining communities to transition and for rural landowners to host clean energy infrastructure. Eighty-one per cent of respondents said they would support assistance to communities relying on coal mining, and 84% supported the distribution of financial incentives to rural landowners for hosting clean energy structures.
- Support to phase out gas for all new homes and public buildings is increasing. Sixty per cent of respondents said they would support a requirement that all new homes, residential divisions and public buildings be powered by electricity, thereby phasing out gas appliances and heating, up from 59% in 2023.
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“Australians’ support for renewable energy sources like solar and wind show a nation ready to tackle carbon emissions and move away from fossil fuels,’’ Griffith University Associate Professor Kerrie Foxwell-Norton said.
The National Climate Action Survey samples 4,000 Australians each year and is the only climate survey in Australia that collects longitudinal data. The full results of the 2024 survey will be released in September.
