public perspectives on energy system change...reasons for including publics… 1. involving publics...

Public perspectives on energy

system change

19th May 2014

Christina Demski

Catherine Butler, Karen Parkhill , Alexa Spence, Nick Pidgeon

Project Background

Multiple long-term national policy goals bring imperatives to transform the energy system

• Climate change, Energy security, Affordability, Environment

Project Background

Publics are deeply implicated in how energy systems are configured

Energy producers & consumers

Active proponents & protesters

Citizens with voting powers

Project Background

Scenarios have limited social dimensions

• Simplified assumptions about public perspectives

• Lack of empirical research

Reasons for including publics…

1. Involving publics in debating the path and nature of technological development is seen as being a ‘good thing’ in and of itself;

2. Seeking to develop insight into public characterisations and concerns in ways that might then feed-back into decisions or activities of scientists and engineers;

3. Aiming to build legitimacy and/or secure consent for developments

Project Overview

WP 1: Scenarios

• Scenario Adaptation, Expert Consultation & Material Development

• Conducted Jan-June 2011

WP 2: Qualitative

• Deliberating Energy System Scenarios & Trade-offs

• Conducted June – Oct 2011

WP 3: Quantitative

• National (GB) Survey: Attitudes toward Whole Energy System Transformations

• Conducted online 2-12th 2012 August

Methods Overview

WP 2 Deliberative Workshops

6 Workshops (n=68)

• Different UK locations

Diverse sample

WP 3 National Online Survey

Nationally representative for GB (n=2,441)

Core samples in Wales & Scotland

Theoretical sub-sampling

Click to add title Synthesis Analysis

My2050

Deliberations

Scenario narratives

Open-ended questions in

survey

Survey responses

Deliberative Workshops

Six Workshops

(n=68) Different UK locations,

diverse sample

National Online Survey

Nationally

representative

for GB

(n=2,441)

Click to add title Public Vision

The public vision of the future energy system is one that contributes to a broader vision of a

sustainable future

strong commitment to

renewable forms of

energy production

and a corresponding

shift away from fossil

fuels.

overall improvement

in energy efficiency

and reductions in

energy demand.

Click to add title Preferences, Attitude and Views

Click to add title The importance of values

Examining what UNDERLIES preferences and views

• Public perceptions and acceptability as highly complex

• Preferences may shift and change

• Especially important for topics of low-salience in everyday life, new and emergent issues, and views that are not yet fully formed.

Formulation of a preference or perception occurs through connecting up new information and experiences with existing values and ideas

Click to add title Solar Energy - example

“RENEWABLE”

“CLEAN”

“FAIR” “JUST”

It’s not about the technology, it’s about the values

Click to add title What we mean by values

Values are guiding principles for people, groups and other social entities

‘Social’ value system Cultural resources

Public VALUES

Environmental protection

Naturalness and

Nature

Avoiding waste

Efficient

Capturing opportunities

Availability and Affordability

Reliability

Safety

Autonomy and Freedom

Choice and Control

Social Justice

Fairness, Honesty & Transparency

Long-term trajectories

Interconnected

Improvement and quality

EFFICIENT and NOT

WASTEFUL

ENVIRONMENT and

NATURE

SECURE and

STABLE

JUST and FAIR

PROCESS

and CHANGE

AUTONOMY and

POWER

Click to add title Efficient and not Wasteful

Avoiding waste and waste products, being more efficient and capturing opportunities

Public VALUES


Naturalness and

Nature

Avoiding waste

Efficient



Reliability

Safety


Choice and Control

Social Justice



Interconnected


ENVIRONMENT and

NATURE

SECURE and

STABLE

JUST and FAIR

PROCESS

and CHANGE

AUTONOMY and

POWER

Click to add title Environment and Nature

A system that uses and produces energy in an environmentally conscious way and does not

unnecessarily interfere with or harm nature

Public VALUES


Naturalness and

Nature

Avoiding waste

Efficient



Reliability

Safety


Choice and Control

Social Justice



Interconnected


SECURE and

STABLE

JUST and FAIR

PROCESS

and CHANGE

AUTONOMY and

POWER

Click to add title Secure and Stable

Ensuring access to energy services both in terms of availability and affordability. A system that is reliable and safe in the production and delivery of energy services.

Public VALUES


Naturalness and

Nature

Avoiding waste

Efficient



Reliability

Safety


Choice and Control

Social Justice



Interconnected


JUST and FAIR

PROCESS

and CHANGE

AUTONOMY and

POWER

Click to add title Just and Fair

Being mindful of implications for people’s abilities to live healthy lives; a system that is fair and inclusive, where actors are honest and transparent.

- Social, environmental, financial impacts

- Vulnerable groups

- Intra- and intergenerational justice

Social Justice

Fair distribution of cost and benefits

Public VALUES


Naturalness and

Nature

Avoiding waste

Efficient



Reliability

Safety


Choice and Control

Social Justice



Interconnected


PROCESS

and CHANGE

AUTONOMY and

POWER

Click to add title Autonomy and Power

Being mindful of the importance of autonomy and freedom at national and personal levels.

Personal freedom, choice and

control

Public VALUES


Naturalness and

Nature

Avoiding waste

Efficient



Reliability

Safety


Choice and Control

Social Justice



Interconnected


PROCESS

and CHANGE

Click to add title Process and Change

Thinking in terms of long-term trajectories, interconnections; and ensuring changes represent improvement in terms of socio-technical advances and quality of life

TODAY

Public VALUES


Naturalness and

Nature

Avoiding waste

Efficient



Reliability

Safety


Choice and Control

Social Justice



Interconnected


CCS as an example…


Naturalness and Nature

Avoiding waste

Efficient



Reliability

Safety

Autonomy and

Freedom

Choice and Control

Social Justice



Interconnected


Click to add title The importance of values

1) Explaining preferences and acceptability

2) Understanding responses and insights into why they might change (and how)

3) Predicting future responses to changes and energy system development

It is essential that social policies are created which are responsive to citizens’ values.

Situating Values

Values relate to how publics think the world SHOULD be...

World views are presuppositions about how the world really is...

Social experiences and context

Click to add title Key Messages

Important to consider how individual elements fit into the wider vision, and how this connects with

desirable visions for change

Public acceptability may only be achieved if it is rooted, in a significant way, in the described value

system. Meaningful public acceptability

Publics are unlikely to settle for a form of change that does not show signs of commitment to the

longer-term trajectories commensurate with these values.

Click to add title Dr Christina Demski [email protected]

Butler, Parkhill,

& Pidgeon (2013)

Available from ‘Reports’ section at www.understanding-risk.org

Demski, Spence

& Pidgeon (2013)

http://www.understanding-risk.org/



public perspectives on energy system change...reasons for including publics… 1. involving publics...

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