For those under 35, 75% opposed new drilling and considered climate change a key priority for the next Scottish Government, with the Holyrood election to be held in May.
Support for renewables in that age group is driven not only by climate change, with 61% believing that clean energy will provide most job opportunities for the sector over the coming years.
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Even in North East Scotland, home to Aberdeen’s oil industry, almost half of those surveyed oppose new drilling.
The survey of 2352 Scots took place between November 26 and December 1 and sought to gauge attitudes ahead of the election.
While energy policy is largely reserved to the UK Government, many of the levers for delivering a successful transition are devolved.
Most Scots, however, do not believe the Scottish Government has taken enough action to boost jobs in renewable energy, with more than one in four (27%) saying it has completely failed to use the powers it has.
Overwhelmingly, respondents of the survey showed that they back a clear government-led plan for the North Sea transition. Over two thirds of voters want to see the next Scottish Government deliver a plan for the transition to renewables now – with a third of Scots (34%) considering this to be ten years too late, given the years of decline in oil and gas production.
While Scotland is yet to experience many of the benefits of a clean energy transition, two thirds (63%) believe it offers the best route to a secure and affordable energy supply, compared to just one quarter (26%) who think this will come from more oil and gas drilling.
Tessa Khan, executive director at Uplift said: “Scotland’s voters are clear – they want an end to drilling and instead a complete focus on creating clean energy jobs in Scotland to protect future generations. They want a step change from the government, not more tinkering.
“It would be a tragedy if election debates were dominated by fossil fuel executives lobbying to hold back the transition to protect their profits, when people clearly want politicians focused on the real job: building a renewable energy industry Scotland can be proud of and delivering good, secure clean energy jobs for workers, especially younger people.
“Next year’s election is voters’ chance to demand more ambition and action from politicians on clean energy – not more delay.”
Research published in December by the Social Mobility Commission found that former mining and manufacturing communities in Scotland are still feeling the “scars” of de-industrialisation in the 1980s.
Its latest report notes “extreme regional differences” within the UK, with former industrial heartlands such as Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire stuck in decline or stagnation.
Environmental campaigners and North Sea workers have warned a similar fate could befall the north-east if a ‘just transition’ away from fossil fuels is not implemented.
Professor Keith Bender of the Just Transition Lab at the University of Aberdeen said: “This survey shows that Scots strongly support the shift to clean energy. Now they need to see the government reward them for their faith and have the government start delivering on this transition in a way that includes all stakeholders.
“The North East, in particular, cannot wait another decade before politicians choose to act.
“The Scottish Government has powers to effect change, whether that’s developing clear plans, making strategic investments in supply chains, or ensuring a clear path for oil and gas workers into quality renewables jobs. There is no time like the present to put these plans into action.”
