Majority of Europeans favour alternative fuels

A recent Eurobarometer poll of European citizens shows that 75% of Europeans think that alternative fuels should be used to reduce greenhouse gases. This belief was strongest in Greece, Denmark, Slovenia and Slovakia (90%, 87%, 86% and 86% respectively) agreeing with the proposition ‘Alternative fuels such as ‘biofuels’ should be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions’, while Germans, Maltese and Luxembourgers proved more sceptical (68%, 64% and 61% agreeing respectively).

The greatest jumps in the belief that alternative fuels should be used can be found in Germany (54% in spring 2008 to 68% in January-February 2009), with Bulgaria (72% to 82%) and Lithuania (75% to 84%) also posting large increases. In contrast, Malta showed the greatest decrease with only 64% of Maltese now agreeing that alternative fuels should be used, compared to 73% in spring 2008. This is largely, however, due to more Maltese not having an opinion.