New poll: majority of Mexicans across political spectrum say clean energy is more important than ever after US aggression

A new poll conducted after the United States’ actions in Venezuela and threats to Greenland and Iran has found that most Mexicans believe domestic renewable energy is essential for strengthening Mexico’s national security.

The survey highlights significant concern from Mexicans about the geopolitical risks linked to fossil fuel reliance - with people across the political spectrum expressing strong support for transitioning to renewable sources of energy like wind and solar. The poll was carried out in February by polling firm Opinium (1) on behalf of the non-profit Secure Energy Project. 

A clear majority of Mexicans associate oil and gas dependence with instability:

• 72% say reliance on oil and gas increases the risk of international conflict, in light of recent events. (2) 

Respondents also strongly connect clean energy with national resilience:

• 72% say transitioning away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy is more important than ever, in light of recent events; 

• 63% believe transitioning to domestic renewable energy such as solar and wind would strengthen national security, in light of recent events; 

• 70% say Mexico would be safer if it produced more renewable energy, in light of recent events.

When asked to choose between future energy strategies:

• 70% say Mexico should prioritise the clean energy transition, while only 18% favour prioritising expansion of fossil fuel resources.

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. An overwhelming majority of Mexicans 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.”

Mexicans are also strongly opposed to foreign aggression to secure access to natural resources:

• 73% say it is completely unacceptable for one country to use military force to take control of another nation’s natural resources;

• 66% say it would be unacceptable for the United States to have arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to access oil reserves;

• 73% say it would be unacceptable for the United States to seize Greenland for its natural resources.

Taken together, the findings show that many Mexicans view 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.

The survey data cited above was collected by Opinium between February 4 and 11, 2026 online using computer assisted web-based interviewing (CAWI). Data is weighted to ensure that the results are nationally representative, with a total of 1000 respondents resulting in a theoretical margin of error of +/-3.1%. 

“The strong association between geopolitical risk and the structure of the energy matrix has two likely explanations: one is the concern over the effects of international markets on domestic consumption prices, and the other is the collective memory of national struggles to gain economic independence throughout the 20th century. What is striking is the fact that for every person favoring the prioritization of fossil fuel resources, there are almost four who would prioritize renewable energy. The survey shows an appetite for bold policymaking to use renewables as a tool to build fairer international economic relations. In Mexico, a growing share of solar and wind would mean a progressive reduction in the amount of fossil gas imported by pipelines from the US to produce electricity. But equally important would be to reduce fossil fuel consumption in transportation through investment in public transit and electrification, thereby reducing gasoline imports. Mexico is in a position where clean transitions in electricity and transportation could undo three decades of deepening dependence on foreign fossil fuels”.

• José María Valenzuela is a Fellow at the Energy for Growth Hub and a professor at El Colegio de México. He is also a research fellow at the University of Oxford Institute for Science, Innovation and Society (InSIS) and Oxford Net Zero Fellow

“If we consider the most recent data on Mexico's dependence on imported "natural" gas, we will realize that levels of structural dependence have been reached that compromise energy sovereignty and amplify national geopolitical vulnerabilities. In 2025 alone, approximately 70% of the gas consumed in the country came from imports, almost entirely from the United States—a fuel that is fundamental to our electrical system. Furthermore, if we look at the current conflict in the Middle East, it has caused abrupt spikes in "natural" gas prices in Europe, with increases of nearly 50% in benchmark prices following production suspensions and closures in the Strait of Hormuz, which drives inflation and economic risks for importers, as is our case. This situation demonstrates how strategies that perpetuate the expansion of fossil infrastructure deepen systemic risks that could be easily prevented with a controlled transition toward domestic renewable sources and local alternative models.

• Aleida Azamar Alonso (Professor-Researcher at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico, and Vice President of the Mesoamerican and Caribbean Society for Ecological Economics

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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. The statement “countries that rely heavily on fossil fuels are more vulnerable to international conflict” has strong support from Mexicans from all political leanings - 68% of Mexicans who consider themselves far-right said they agreed with it; compared to 66% of on the centre-right; 63% of people in the “centre”; 64% on the centre-left; and 59% on the far-left.

3. The statement “transitioning away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy is more important than ever” has strong support from Mexicans from right to left - 77% of Mexicans on the far-right said they agreed with it; compared to 72% on the centre-right; 77% of people in the “centre”; 77% on the centre-left; and 76% on the far-left.

4. The statement “transitioning to domestic renewable energy such as solar and wind would strengthen national security” has strong support from Mexicans from right to left - 63% of Mexicans on the far-right said they agreed with it; compared to 61% on the centre-right; 66% in the “centre”; 65% on the centre-left; and 68% on the far-left.

5. The statement “Mexico would be safer if it produced more renewable energy” is popular across the political spectrum - 75% of Mexicans who consider themselves far-right said they agreed with it; compared to 70% on the centre-right; 72% in the “centre”; 74% on the centre-left; and 72% on the far-left.

6. The statement “Mexico should prioritise the clean energy transition” is a popular statement with Mexicans of all political leanings - 74% of Mexicans on the far-right said they agreed with it; compared to 75% on the centre-right; 74% of people in the “centre”; 72% on the centre-left; and 63% on the far-left.