Psychological Processes and Institutional Actors in the Sustainable Energy Transition: A Case-Study Analysis of a Local Community in Italy

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a qualitative study exploring the role of formal social units in the sustainable energy transition process. A small community in Northeast Italy was assumed as case study, in the context of a wider EU-funded research project aimed at understanding the individual and collective dimensions of energyrelated choices. Starting from a general framework and integrated approach to explain sustainable energy transitions proposed by Steg et al. (2015), the main aim of our study was to identify the psychological and social factors that motivated the key actors to undertake an energy self-sufficiency path in the case-study area. Our analyses aimed at understanding the social, cultural, and socioeconomic dynamics in the energy transition process of the community. The study outlined how these factors contributed to foster collaborative actions between public decision makers, relevant stakeholders, civil society, and citizens. Results of a computer-supported qualitative content analysis using the software MAXQDA helped to shed light on the specific mechanisms and dynamics driving energy choices and energy-related behavior among the community. The implication for best practices and successful implementations of energy transition process in small communities emerging from this case study are discussed.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Impact of government governance and environmental taxes on sustainable energy transition in China: fresh evidence using a novel QARDL approach

“…This energy transition phase is mostly within the control of official social units, such as institutions, policymakers, and energy providers, with concentrated influence over energy choice preferences. Governments, public authorities, and regional and city regulatory authorities are examples of formal social entities (Chien et al 2022b;Tiberio et al 2020). Discussions about energy transition increasingly focus on governance issues (Bridge et al 2013;Chien et al 2022cHaarstad, 2016Kuzemko et al 2016).…”

The Significance of Enabling Human Consideration in Policymaking: How to Get the E-Ferry That You Want

“…This article relies on an in-depth case study—a common method used in social science for the comprehensive examination of sustainable energy transition issues (e.g., Tiberio et al, 2020 ), chosen for its appropriateness in understanding the intentions, dependencies, and reflections, of the developments in this particular project. The development of a case description and case themes was supported by gathering and analysing in-depth and detailed data derived from interviews, documents and news media (Creswell, 2013 ).…”

The ancients knew it already: how Stoic philosophy explains the link between mindfulness, emotion regulation and pro-environmental behaviours (Los antiguos ya lo sabían: cómo explica la filosofía estoica el vínculo entre mindfulness, regulación emocional y la conducta proambiental)

“…Aunque muchos científicos y políticos sostienen que los cambios tecnológicos pueden ayudar de manera significativa a reducir las emisiones de carbono y el calentamiento global, hay un consenso generalizado de que son necesarios esfuerzos más sistemáticos, institucionales y conductuales para modificar el comportamiento humano si se quiere promover un uso sostenible de los recursos naturales, reducir el consumo excesivo, y alcanzar las metas ambientales globales (Tiberio et al, 2020). Algunos autores argumentan que la transición a la sostenibilidad requiere un ‘cambio de valores materialistas a post-materialistas, de visiones del mundo antropocéntricas a ecológicas’ (Leiserowitz et al, 2005, p. 36).…”

“…Although many scientists and policy-makers have claimed that technological changes can significantly help to reduce carbon emissions and global warming, it is widely recognized that more systematic, institutional and behavioural efforts to change human behaviour are needed for a more sustainable use of natural resources, for reducing overconsumption and for pursuing global environmental goals (Tiberio et al, 2020). Some authors have argued that a transition to sustainability requires a ‘shift from materialist to post-materialist values, from anthropocentric to ecological world-views’ (Leiserowitz et al, 2005, p. 36).…”