What does Wales think about Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain?
The protest actions of Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain have been big talking points over the past 12 months, and it's clear their tactics haven't been hugely popular. Wales however, is the region with the highest support for the two groups, with 24% in favour.
That still leaves the majority of people in Wales saying either 'no' or 'I haven't heard of them', but the greater support aligns with the region being the most concerned about climate change.
It could be that the extreme weather events that occurred in Wales in 2022 have stirred support - both Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain take the view that drastic situations require drastic solutions.
Overall however, their tactics are seen as genuinely disruptive. It's what likely points to the low overall support for them, because a number of high-profile protests have led to ordinary people missing hospital appointments thanks to road blocks, for example.
What's interesting is that the groups focused most of their attention in and around London, notably blocking the motorways connected to the capital. So you could say Wales has a higher support for their tactics because they're not as directly affected by them.
Or they see the symbolism behind disrupting London as a statement against Westminster, who've been accused of dragging their heels on the climate issue.
Either way, it's likely why 61% of the South East were against the protest groups, compared to just 42% of Wales.
What steps have Welsh households taken to improve energy efficiency?
62% of people in Wales have taken steps to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, the highest percentage in the UK.This makes total sense when you consider the rising costs of energy bills over the last 12 months. The prices of electricity and gas skyrocketed as a result of Russia's war against Ukraine, as well as post-pandemic increases in demand for energy.
Many people in Wales are likely aware that a more efficient home means less energy leaking out, which saves money on bills. Electricity in particular shot up from an average of 28p per kilowatt hour (kWh) in April 2022, up to 34p per kWh after the October 2022 price cap increase.
It'd actually be as high as 41p per kWh, were it not for the UK government's Energy Price Guarantee (EPG).
And even despite the EPG, the growing costs of electricity and gas has clearly sparked action among people in Wales, who've seen their energy bills increase in the last year.
It's a similar picture around the whole of the UK, with over half of the 2,134 adults we surveyed saying they'd taken steps to improve their property's energy efficiency. This included homeowners, renters, and people living with their parents.
