Germans want rapid energy transition - poll

Oct 8, 2013 - The majority of Germans expect the new government to accelerate the ongoing shift to renewable energy, according to a poll by TNS Emnid.

About 84% of those polled believe the new cabinet will try to speed up Germany's so-called "green revolution." The poll, published last week, also shows that only one-fifth believe the energy transition should be left to the market alone.

About 75% said renewable sites managed by citizens need to be prioritised by the government.

Most Germans want the shift to continue. The transition should be decentralised, fairer and shaped by the citizens, said Hubert Weiger, chairman of German environmental protection lobby group BUND.

In a sign that the energy shift enjoys significant support, one-third of the interviewed indicated they would be ready to contribute financially to a site being developed in their vicinity.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose conservatives achieved a resounding victory in the federal election on September 22, is currently trying to find a coalition partner to form a government.

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