Public Perceptions of Energy Choices: The Influence of Beliefs about Climate Change and the Environment

Abstract

Past research has documented high levels of public concern for risks relating to nuclear power, with opposition to nuclear energy particularly being linked with general environmental concern. However recent UK energy policy, and other debates worldwide, has led to a repositioning of nuclear power as a 'low carbon' electricity source with potential benefits for mitigating climate change. Whilst many previous studies have examined perceptions of climate change and nuclear energy separately, this large British public attitude survey explores relationships between the two as well as with perceptions of other energy sources. Both general environmental concern and concerns about climate change were linked with positive evaluations of renewables and negative evaluations of nuclear power. We conclude that, despite the policy positioning of nuclear power as a low carbon electricity source, most people concerned about climate change continue to perceive nuclear negatively, something partially explained by general environmental concerns.

Public attitudes regarding large-scale solar energy development in the U.S.

“…For example, Hansla et al [42] find that attitude toward green electricity is positively associated with willingness to pay for it. Spence et al [72] find that general environmental concern and concerns about climate change are positively linked with evaluations of renewables and negatively linked with evaluations of nuclear power. Likewise, Corner et al [17] find that those who are more concerned about climate change and energy security and possess higher environmental values are less likely to favor nuclear power; however this relationship is reversed when respondents are allowed to express their dislike for nuclear power at the same time as their conditional support for it.…”

Public engagement with marine climate change issues: (Re)framings, understandings and responses

“…Smaller surveys within individual EU nations also show high levels of concern (e.g. Paeth and Otto, 2009;Spence et al, 2010b;Whitmarsh, 2011). In the UK a decline in public concern since 2006 has been documented (see Spence et al, 2010a), although its attribution remains difficult to define.…”

The Risk of Residential Peak Electricity Demand: A Comparison of Five European Countries

“…At the same time, the integration of electric vehicles and heat pumps means that peak demand increases will be disproportionately higher than absolute electricity demand increases. A coherent framework for communicating risks to end-users is currently missing [28], although much technological optimism is placed in smart metering technologies [29].…”