New poll: Majority of Indians say clean energy is more important than ever after US aggression overseas

13th March 2026— A new poll conducted after the United States’ actions in Venezuela and threats against Greenland and Iran has found that a clear majority of Indians think domestic renewable energy is essential for strengthening India’s national security and resilience.

The survey, carried out by polling firm Opinium (1) on behalf of the non-profit Secure Energy Project (2), highlights significant concern across India about the geopolitical risks linked to fossil fuel reliance.

A majority of Indians associate oil and gas dependence with instability:

• 61% believe countries that rely heavily on fossil fuels are more vulnerable to international conflict;

• 60% say reliance on oil and gas increases the risk of international conflict.

Respondents strongly connect clean energy with national resilience:

• 67% say transitioning away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy is more important than ever, in light of recent events;

• 67% believe transitioning to domestic renewable energy, such as solar and wind, would strengthen national security, in light of recent events;

• 72% say India would be safer if it produced more renewable energy, in light of recent events.

When asked to choose between future energy strategies:

• 66% say India should prioritise the clean energy transition, while only 27% favour prioritising expansion of fossil fuel resources. 

You can see the full results of the survey here. 

Leila Aly El Deen, CEO at Secure Energy Project said:

“First Venezuela, now Iran - the turbulence of 2026 has shown yet again how fossil fuels make us vulnerable to foreign aggression and global price shocks. A significant majority of Indians have clearly woken up to the fact that home-grown solar and wind are the smart choice in a world where wars are still waged over oil and gas. Clean energy isn’t just about fixing our climate - it’s a national security imperative and the best route to putting power back into our hands.”

Indians are also opposed to foreign aggression to secure access to natural resources:

• 60% say it is completely unacceptable for one country to use military force to take control of another nation’s natural resources;

• 56% say it would be unacceptable for the United States to have arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to access oil reserves;

• 56% say it would be unacceptable for the United States to seize Greenland for its natural resources.

Taken together, the findings show that many Indians are framing renewable energy not only as a climate solution but as a strategic necessity, with solar and wind power widely understood as a pathway to greater sovereignty, stability, and long-term security.

-- ENDS –

The survey data cited above were collected by Opinium between February 4 and 14, 2026 online using computer-assisted web-based interviewing (CAWI). Data are weighted to ensure results are nationally representative, with a total of 1000 respondents, yielding a theoretical margin of error of +/-3.1%. 

1. Opinium is a market research and insight agency with teams in London, New York, Amsterdam, Cape Town and with global reach. https://www.opinium.com/us/home/

2. Secure Energy Project is a not-for-profit organisation that works with governments, businesses and communities on the clean energy transition. https://www.secureenergyproject.org/