Mary Jo Lavelle "Adopting the energy cultures framework to promote pro-environmental behavioural change on the island of Ireland." Lightening Talk Energy Cultures Conference 2016

1. Adopting the Energy Cultures Framework to
promote pro-environmental behavioural
change in Ireland
Dr Mary Jo Lavelle | Postdoctoral Research Fellow| Centre for
Sustainability| University of Otago
T 03-479 9242 | E maryjo.Lavelle@otago.ac.nz | W www.energycultures.org

2. Challenges for Sustainable Consumption in the
Irish Context:
Ireland:
 Relatively young population.
 North-South divide: different policy regions.
 The Celtic Tiger era- impact on environment?
 High import dependency (91%) and low renewable energy.
Energy:
 Higher energy usage per dwelling and higher CO2 emissions than
the EU averages:
 Ireland was 31% above the EU average energy usage per
dwelling
 36% above the EU-27average (SEI, 2008)
Water Consumption
 Ireland - 148 litres per person per day in comparison to Denmark
(116 litres)
 High levels of water leakage; up to 55% in certain areas - costing the
state almost €1bn annually (EPA, 2008).
• Mobility
 Ireland amongst the most car dependent societies in Europe
(Gkartzios & Scott, 2007).
 An increasing reliance on the private motor vehicle as the preferred
mode of transport (Clinch et al., 2002)
Email: maryjo.Lavelle@otago.ac.nz

3. Material
culture
PracticesNorms
External
influences
External
influences
Email: maryjo.Lavelle@otago.ac.nz
Adopting Energy Cultures Framework to understand Ireland’s
prevailing mobility cultures
Economic recession –
impact on consumption
behaviours (91% reported
ability to own a new car
affected; 64% heat home
affected).
Ireland’s Mobility
Culture
Short term policy Celtic Tiger
Emissions-related motor
taxation and strict National
Car Testing (NCT)
Cycle to work scheme – to
promote cycling as a
sustainable transport option.
Low Uptake EVs – despite
financial incentives
71% drove a car for daily commute to
work,
school or college;
47% travelled < 5 miles
18% travelled less than 2 miles.
Active transport – higher in urban areas
Environmental Concern:
86% respondents were either
“very concerned” or
“somewhat concerned” about
environmental issues
(n=1289).
Environmental
Responsibility:
More than half of the sample
(58%, n=871) stated that they
needed to act in a more
environmentally friendly way.
-Car dependent society
-Relatively new car fleet
-Slow uptake of EVs
(n=500)
-Poor public transport
provision – 34% reported
lack of PT

4. http://energycultures.org/
Co-funders:Our main funder:
Contact details:
E maryjo.Lavelle@otago.ac.nz | W www.energycultures.org