New polling shows concern over the negative impacts of offshore wind on wildlife is reducing support for this renewable energy.
5 min read
New polling released today has found strong public support for offshore wind in Scotland – but only alongside strong protections for nature.
The poll found that, while there is strong support for renewable energy, people overwhelmingly expect offshore wind developments to protect wildlife like seabirds.
RSPB Scotland, who commissioned the polling, are calling on the Scottish Government to do a better job of balancing the ambitions for offshore wind expansion with Scotland’s responsibilities as one of the world’s most important places for seabirds.
More than three-quarters (76%) of respondents agreed that offshore wind farms should only be built in places where they will not harm nature.
Most people (57%) said there were concerned about the potential impacts of offshore wind on protected seabirds like puffins. While almost eight in 10 people (79%) said they would be more likely to support offshore wind developments located away from important wildlife sites.
Conducted by Diffley Partnership, the polling suggests people in Scotland also expect the climate and nature emergencies to be addressed together.
The nationally representative survey of 1,175 people across Scotland also found:
The research also examined public attitudes on Berwick Bank, a controversial offshore wind farm planned off Scotland's east coast.
Due to its proximity to internationally important seabird sites, the project is predicted by Scottish Government scientists to kill thousands of protected seabirds in its first year alone.
Most respondents (60%) said Berwick Bank should only go ahead if impacts on wildlife and nature can be significantly reduced. Just one in seven (14%) of people said Berwick Bank should go ahead because the renewable energy benefits outweigh its impacts on nature.
"These results show people across Scotland support renewable energy, but not at the expense of our most important wildlife.
"People recognise the need for urgent action on climate change, but they also expect offshore wind developments to avoid harming already vulnerable seabird populations and other marine wildlife as much as possible.
We're currently witnessing a rapid expansion of offshore wind in Scotland, with seabirds paying the price and nowhere near enough investment to ensure their protection and recovery.
"Scotland can lead the way in tackling the climate and nature emergency together. That means developing offshore wind in the right places, reducing impacts on wildlife, and providing significant compensation for any unavoidable harm.
"This polling shows there's widespread support for a balanced approach, delivering renewable energy while protecting the wildlife that helps make Scotland so special. It’s now up the Scottish Government to make that a reality"
This polling comes ahead of the expected publication of the Scottish Government’s Sectoral Marien Plan which will aim to identify sustainable options for the future development of offshore wind energy in Scotland.
