Differences in attitudes towards the green transition across Europe

Abstract

Global warming is a critical problem, and research shows that 60% of energy consumption and more than 70% of carbon emissions are from cities. In the past three decades, CO2 emission levels increased proportionately with the increase in economic growth and energy consumption. Therefore, the imperative shift towards green energy becomes increasingly vital. In response to this urgency, the European Union (EU) has embarked on proactive measures based on renewable technologies and launched a variety of initiatives and projects to meet energy targets. In addition, energy technologies ought to be both sustainable and economically viable for the benefit of the citizens. To achieve this objective, an improvement in the management of the energy market and the assurance of sustainable energy production calls for a thorough energy transition, which requires citizens’ active participation. To ensure the sustainable active participation of citizens, stakeholders need to understand the attitude of citizens toward green transition. This research has developed a paradigm to explore and identify differences in attitudes among energy citizens as a part of understanding energy citizen’s actions and interactions in the context of energy behavior. This research followed a mixed method approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, along with clustering methods that frame the different attitude components (Affect, Behavior, and Cognition) in a mathematical paradigm. Each resultant cluster illustrates a different attitude mode toward green transition.