The Ipsos Energy Transition Barometer

Welcome to the Ipsos Energy Transition Barometer, a 31-country Global Advisor study exploring public attitudes toward energy costs, security, and the path to net zero. Energy anxiety is deepening on multiple fronts at once. Affordability, security, and reliability are converging to reshape what the public expects of policymakers — and the energy transition is no longer driven by climate urgency alone, but by cost of living, economic security, and risk.

This study surveyed 23,704 adults across 31 countries in January and February 2026, with follow-up fieldwork in April and May capturing the early effects of the Iran conflict on public attitudes — giving a rare before-and-after view of how a geopolitical shock reshapes public sentiment toward energy.

Five Key findings

• Foreign energy dependency anxiety is rising sharply. Concern that countries rely too much on foreign energy sources climbed 7 points to 70% between February and May 2026, a shift driven by the Iran conflict making energy vulnerability feel concrete and immediate. The sharpest rises were in Australia (+16pts), Singapore (+13pts), India (+13pts), and Great Britain (+12pts).
   
• Affordability worry is at its highest point yet. Three in four people globally (76%) say they're worried about rising energy costs, and half (49%) have cut other spending to cover them. Countries especially exposed — Thailand, Chile, India, and Singapore — are seeing all four affordability measures rise sharply at once.
   
• Confidence in grid reliability is falling where it matters most. While 46% are confident their region can meet future electricity demand, just 35% believe local grids are ready for the energy needs of AI data centres — the lowest-scoring reliability measure, with advanced economies notably more sceptical than emerging markets.
   
• Support for the energy transition remains solid, especially if it can address affordability and security, while limiting climate impact. Two in three (67%) support renewable energy and storage investment, but 53% also want governments to prioritize low energy prices even if emissions rise — a direct tension with climate goals impacted by the urgency of affordability.
   
• Solar leads on every measure of public trust. Solar power tops public support (77%) and is the only energy source seen as environmentally friendly, reliable, and affordable all at once — while support for nuclear remains split, with 41% backing increased development against a much smaller but vocal 25% opposed.