Nearly three in four British adults would support their pension being invested in renewable energy, according to new YouGov polling for the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF), released as Prime Minister Andy Burnham prepared for his keynote speech to Labour's conference in Liverpool.
The survey of 2,149 adults, commissioned for UKSIF's Good Money Week, found 74% would support their retirement savings being invested in renewable energy, with only 13% opposed. On affordable housing, 62% were in favour and 21% against.
Support held up across the political spectrum. On renewable energy, 85% of Labour voters, 86% of Liberal Democrat voters and 96% of Green voters were in favour - but so were 63% of Conservative voters and 51% of Reform UK voters. On affordable housing, 73% of Labour voters backed the idea, alongside 50% of Conservative voters and 49% of Reform UK voters.
UKSIF said the results showed strong public support for directing personal savings into sectors the Prime Minister is expected to prioritise, including building more homes and expanding renewable power.
Alexander: 'Voters clearly want their retirement savings to support renewable energy'
UKSIF chief executive James Alexander said consistent policy was the key to bringing that capital into the UK.
"Voters clearly want their retirement savings to support renewable energy and affordable housing.
"But this capital, which pension funds allocate across international markets, will only flow into the UK if we continue to be a top global investment destination.
"Strong, consistent policies that support the long-term development of these sectors are vitally important for attracting this finance into the country.
"The Prime Minister must stay committed to decarbonising our energy system and unlocking investment in efficient, affordable housing, which can help drive growth and jobs across the nation."
GB Grid 'must drive investment'
UKSIF has also welcomed the Government's announcement of GB Grid, a new public body intended to speed up connections to the electricity network. Alexander said the Government was "absolutely right to take seriously the scale of the problem posed by underinvestment in our grid system".
"Delays in connecting renewable infrastructure to electricity networks can make the difference between investment staying in the UK and flowing overseas. Lengthy planning timelines can also derail major projects before they even get off the ground.
"Capturing this finance is essential for securing the future of our energy system while delivering growth and jobs across the country. GB Grid's success should be judged on whether it makes the country a more attractive destination for this global capital."
The YouGov fieldwork was carried out online on 13 and 14 September, and the figures are weighted to be representative of all GB adults.
