- Local authorities
[Observatory] The energy transition will be a criterion in the voting choices of 87% of French people in 2026 - Download the survey
Observatory for the Local Energy Transition 2025 Edition - Elected officials and the Public
In partnership with Ipsos and the association Villes de France, Idex is revealing the results of the 2025 edition of the Observatory for the Local Energy Transition. Cross-analysing for the first time the views of 2,000 members of the public and 502 mayors, this unique survey reveals three main sources of tension in the run-up to the municipal elections: urgent and underestimated local perceptions, public initiatives that are largely invisible, and historic budgetary constraints.
The 2026 elections are set to take place against a unique backdrop. Mayors are facing a squeeze between huge public expectations and diminishing resources. This situation calls for innovative solutions in terms of financing and governance.
Clear but underestimated public support
The main finding of this 2025 edition contradicts the widely accepted idea of a “green backlash”. On the contrary, the energy transition is likely to be a decisive factor in the next local elections. A full 87% of French people say that this issue will be “important or a priority” in their voting choices in 2026.
Yet at the same time, the survey highlights a strategic blind spot: only 64% of mayors believe that this issue will be a priority for their electors. This 23-point differences shows the extent to which public support is under-estimated. French people have not rejected the energy transition. Quite the opposite, they see it as a way to protect their purchasing power, with local energy being perceived as a barrier against inflation.
The findings of the 2025 Observatory are clear: the “backlash” has nothing to do with public perceptions and everything to do with budgetary constraints. The public is looking for unequivocal commitment. The real battle is no longer public opinion but financing. Only local energy offers protection against market volatility.
Key figures
87% of French people say that the energy transition will be a criterion in their voting choices in the 2026 municipal elections
68% are interested in connecting to a renewable heat network in order to reduce their bills
77% of mayors say they are ready to turn more to public-private partnerships to offset shrinking budgets
92% of local authorities say they are making active efforts, but only 41% of the public believe this to be the case.
The paradox of invisible initiatives
Although local entities are making real efforts, this is not necessarily visible. While 92% of local authorities describe themselves as “active” or “very active” in promoting the energy transition, 59% of people are still unaware or doubtful of local commitment.
This 51-point perception gap can be explained by the type of work involved. While the renovation of public buildings is visible, changes to infrastructure, such as for heating networks or waste recovery, remain largely unseen. And yet, once these solutions have been understood, they are welcomed by the public, who see them as the best way to keep their bills under control. It is urgent to “make the invisible visible” so that the ecological initiatives of local councils can be reflected in their political record.
The first shortfall in the energy transition concerns communication. With 92% of mayors taking real action, while 59% of the public remains unaware, we are facing a major political risk. We have to make the invisible visible.
The budgetary divide and the shift to private enterprise
The year 2025 marks a turning point in financing models. Squeezed between soaring investment needs and dwindling public resources (smaller Green Fund, inflation), mayors are adopting a pragmatic approach.
The survey shows that 77% of mayors are now open to more partnerships with the private sector (Public Service Contracts, Energy Performance Contracts). The objective is clear: to find models where investments are borne by the industrial operator and repaid through energy savings, thereby driving modernisation at local level without increasing municipal debt.
An original method with scientific supervision
For this 2025 edition, the Observatory broke new ground in terms of methodology, by cross-analysing the views of 2,000 members of the public and 502 mayors for the first time. This systemic approach makes it possible to accurately measure the gaps between public action and local perceptions.
To ensure the rigour of these analyses, the Observatory set up a multidisciplinary Scientific Advisory Board. Chaired by François Gemenne, researcher and co-author with the IPCC, the board brings together the sociological expertise of Brice Teinturier (Ipsos) with the on-the-ground reality conveyed by elected representatives Frédérique Macarez (Villes de France) and Christine Lavarde (Senator), and the industrial vision of Benjamin Fremaux (Idex).
