Global Poll Reveals Business Support for Rapid Transition to Renewable Energy

A landmark global poll of nearly 1,500 business executives across 15 major economies and emerging markets, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Turkiye, the UK, and the US, conducted by Savanta and commissioned by E3G, Beyond Fossil Fuels, and We Mean Business Coalition, reveals strong support for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels to renewable electricity.

The data from the poll, 'Powering Up: Business Perspectives on Shifting to Renewable Electricity,' highlights a significant shift in corporate attitudes, with 97 percent of mid-market and large company leaders backing the move away from coal and other fossil fuels. Additionally, nearly 78 percent of these leaders support the transition to a renewable-based electricity system by 2035 or sooner.

As world leaders finalise their next round of national climate plans (NDCs), the message from the business community is clear: renewable energy is considered the optimal path for economic growth, energy security, and long-term competitiveness. The poll also serves as a warning, with a majority of businesses suggesting they will relocate if governments fail to act decisively.

The survey's key findings highlight the critical importance of this energy transition for business competitiveness, with half of the business leaders stating they would relocate their operations (52 percent) and supply chains (49 percent) to markets with better access to renewables-based power systems within five years. Energy security is also a paramount concern, as three-quarters (75 percent) of executives associate renewables with stronger energy security.

Notably, 78 percent of German business leaders believe an accelerated renewable transition will reduce Germany’s exposure to volatile energy imports. Moreover, a significant majority of business leaders link renewables to economic growth (77 percent) and job creation (75 percent). The desire for a swift transition away from coal is also evident, with nearly nine in ten (87 percent) executives who want their government to prioritise investment in renewables also wanting a stop to coal-fired electricity within the next decade. Furthermore, over two-fifths (43 percent) of mid-sized and large businesses plan to transition away from using coal within their own operations by 2030, with over a quarter (27 percent) intending to follow suit by 2035.

The poll also indicates a clear preference against investing in new gas infrastructure as a bridge fuel, with two-thirds (67 percent) of executives wanting coal phased out and replaced directly with renewables, grids, and storage. This sentiment prevails even in gas-reliant countries like Mexico, Italy, and Japan, and in the United States, almost two-thirds (65 percent) of those polled would rather see a direct transition to renewables in a post-coal era.

Despite this strong corporate backing, many business leaders feel that government policy is lagging. In Japan, for example, business leaders are seeking clarity on renewable electricity’s role within the country’s climate plans, highlighting corporate uncertainty in the investment outlook. In Canada, companies are urging workforce reskilling and targeted incentives to address the risks associated with mine closures.

Country-specific highlights further illustrate the global trend. In Brazil, as the host of COP30, a striking 89 percent of business leaders support shifting away from any remaining fossil fuels to a renewables-based electricity system by 2035.

Despite massive coal sectors in India and Indonesia, 93 percent and 94 percent of executives respectively who support new investment in renewables being prioritised, back transitioning away from coal within 10 years. In Australia, 60 percent of business executives identified job creation as a primary benefit of the transition.

In Turkiye, corporate frustration is mounting over fossil fuel interests blocking progress. Businesses in several countries, including South Africa, Indonesia, Canada, and Australia, want governments to shift directly to renewables without moving first to gas. In the UK, delays in obtaining permits for renewable energy projects are seen as a barrier, while in South Korea, accelerated grid modernization is desired. In Poland, a rapid exit from coal has strong business support.

In response to these findings, business leaders from companies like Iberdrola, Schneider Electric, Signify, and Natura have emphasised the economic and strategic sense of transitioning to renewable energy and have called on governments to implement clear incentives, robust transition roadmaps, and investible NDCs.

They also highlight the need for workforce retraining and job creation plans to ensure a just transition. The poll's findings present a clear mandate for policymakers to accelerate the shift towards renewable energy, recognizing it as a crucial factor for attracting investment, fostering economic growth, and ensuring long-term competitiveness in a rapidly changing global landscape.