A gas-led economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is not what the majority of Australians want, a new survey has found.
The 2020 Climate of the Nation report found that two in three Australians would prefer the government choose renewables as the pathway out of recession.
Almost 2000 Australians took part in the annual survey, which found only 12 per cent of Australians sided with the federal government, saying they support Australia's economic recovery being primarily powered by investment in gas.
Eighty-three per cent of respondents also said they wanted coal-fired power stations to be phased out.
The Herald's opinion: Prime Minister Scott Morrison's gas plan and the transition to renewables
"The COVID-19 crisis has strengthened Australians' resolve for all levels of government to take action on climate change," Australia Institute director Richie Merzian said.
"The Australian government's call for a 'gas-fired recovery' to reignite the economy in the wake of COVID-19 is not backed by popular support," he wrote in the report's foreword."
Last month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the federal government would build a gas power plant at Kurri Kurri if the energy sector does not replace the capacity lost from the closure of Liddell power station.
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The survey also found eight in ten Australians believe the country is already seeing the impacts of climate change and are concerned it will result in more bushfires.
More than two in three Australians believe Australia should have a national target for net-zero emissions by 2050, including majority support across Coalition voters (59 per cent), Labor voters (81 per cent), Greens voters (90 per cent) and other voters (65 per cent).
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