The majority of French people want their country to speed up the development of renewables and nuclear energies to get away from fossil fuels by 2050, according to a survey by Harris Interactive.

According to the survey, the proportion of French citizens interested in energy issues grew from 65% in May 2021 to 77% in April 2023, with the war in Ukraine playing a role, according to Euractiv.

“When two-thirds of the population [in 2021] was interested in energy, it was a surprise,” Harris Interactive’s deputy director Jean-Daniel Lévy told a press conference.

Over the same period, the number of French who have a “good image” of nuclear power increased (57%) – a six percentage point jump compared to 2021 – though there are “persistent doubts about the issues of independence and energy transition,” the survey states.

“The ecological dimension and the undeniable aspect of price, as understood by the French, play a role in the perception of nuclear power,” said Lévy.

However, more people still favour natural gas (58%), with wind, geothermal, hydraulic and solar energy being the most popular by a wide margin (84%).

According to the survey, the French also want the government to speed up the country’s development of renewable energies, as 65% believe it to be insufficient.

Interviewed on Franceinfo on Wednesday morning, Energy Transition Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher recalled that France is looking to speed up the development of renewable energies, citing the recent adoption of the Renewable Energies Acceleration Law, and the ongoing examination of a nuclear energy bill that is close to being adopted.

In parallel, the European Commission presented a reform of the European electricity market on 14 March, which should provide more visibility for renewable and nuclear players since all are subject to rules that will facilitate long-term investments.