This document summarizes key points from a presentation on public perceptions and attitudes towards energy transitions. It discusses how meaningful public engagement is important for developing policies and technologies that account for public values and foster trust and support for necessary changes. Preferences are complex and informed by values and experiences. Issues of fairness and costs are particularly important. Research is needed to understand evolving public views and how to continuously engage the public in decision-making to help achieve emissions reductions goals.

1. Public perceptions and attitudes
towards the energy transition
Dr Christina Demski
Reader, Psychology, University of Bath
Deputy Director of Centre for Climate Change and
Social Transformations (CAST)
SEAI National Energy Research and Policy Conference, September 2022

2. £5 million ESRC investment; Phase 1: 2019-2024;
Director: Prof. L Whitmarsh, MBE
How can we as a society live differently and better to
achieve systemic, deep and rapid emission reductions?
Food/Diet Material consumption
Mobility Heating & cooling
www.cast.ac.uk

3. www.cast.ac.uk

4. • world-class, interdisciplinary research into sustainable future energy
systems.
• Established in 2004; now 20+ institutions
www.ukerc.ac.uk

5. Public engagement with
climate and energy
Deep and rapid emission reductions require
societal wide transformations:
• People are at the heart of those changes
• Importance of early and meaningful public
engagement
DELIVERY DECISION-MAKING
Demski, C. (2021). Net Zero Public Engagement
and Participation. UK Department for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy.

6. Rationales for engagement
1. Develop technologies, interventions,
communication and policies that take account of
public values and experiences
2. Foster legitimacy, trust and a sense of collective
action
= strong social mandate & support for radical changes
= successful delivery of carbon reduction targets
Demski, C. (2021). Net Zero Public Engagement
and Participation. Department for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy.

7. Public preferences for energy transitions
• Energy transitions are complex and so are public perceptions and
acceptability
• Preferences may shift and change, and evolve over time
• What informs a preference? -> Values and experiences
• Especially important for topics of low-salience, new and emergent
issues, and views that are not yet fully formed
• Formulation of a preference or perception occurs through connecting
new information with existing values and experiences
Demski et al. (2015). Public values for energy system change. Global Environmental Change 34, pp. 59-69.

8. Heating example
Demski et al. (2022). Public preferences for low-carbon lifestyles. CAST briefing 14; www.cast.ac.uk

9. Perceived fairness as important
Distributive justice: Who bears the costs? Who
benefits?
Procedural justice: Transparency; having a voice in
decision-making
Demski et al. (2018). National context is a key determinant of energy security concerns across
Europe. Nature Energy, 3, 882-888
Demski et al. (2015). Public values for energy system change. Global Environmental Change, 34, 59-69.
Importance of justice values and beliefs

10. “It’s called having a good
accountant, isn’t it?”
“They could have 50% profit if
I could afford my bill…And I
know people that are
elderly….[…]and he is sitting
there struggling to get heat”
Importance of justice values and beliefs
Acceptance of costs (on energy bills)
associated with low-carbon energy policies:
Personal financial circumstances
- Income
- Energy bill/costs
- Concerns about cost
Fairness and justice beliefs
- Distributive justice
- Procedural justice
- Trust indicators
Distrust in energy companies (and their profits):
n=3150, nationally representative UK
survey; Evensen et al. (2018)
5 focus group in Wales, Scotland and
England; Becker et al. (2019)

11. Energy security and affordability
% very/extremely worried
European Social Survey 2018

12. Important research areas and policy enablers to support societal
transformation for delivery of Ireland’s energy revolution
1. Understanding public values and experiences and how these relate
to new technologies, policies and innovations; how they evolve over
time
2. Public engagement at multiple levels (and continuous) as key –
including people in decision-making and improving delivery; e.g.
creating policies that are responsive to social values and experiences
Conclusion

13. Thank you
Dr Christina Demski
cd2076@bath.ac.uk
www.cast.ac.uk