Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Embracing sustainability in the 21st century entails developing environmental identity, so that attitudes towards energy sustainability result from the core values of one’s individual and social identity. This study aims to explore the shift in the formation of environmental identity and attitudes towards energy sustainability throughout the course of the two-year study period (2018–2020). A dataset of 8,677,961 tweets, Facebook posts and comments and 325,228 news articles was collected to carry out quantitative analysis of the distribution of the posts, likes, and comments. A correlation with media coverage of energy and green topics was sought to establish the impact of the media on public debate. A qualitative analysis of posts and tweets was carried out to establish dominant themes. The findings of the study reveal that both positive attitudes towards energy sustainability and environmental identity have been consolidated throughout the two-year study period. Social media users are not only increasingly interested in green issues but also produce more reactions towards posts related to sustainability topics. The results also suggest that sustainable values and green behavior are independent from the media coverage of current events and the perceived threat to one’s health from COVID-19. Social networking sites provide a context in which users not only reinforce their beliefs and values, but also mimic the behavior of other users, which leads to the formation of a social media identity bubble that reinforces shared identity—in this case, environmental identity. This study offers a multidisciplinary perspective on sustainable development that will be able to drive equitable energy security and environmental security.
Highlights
The modern-day consumption patterns and rapid technological progress bring about increasing socio-environmental threats [1,2,3,4], whereas natural disasters lead to considerable risks being faced by energy systems [5]
The study aimed to answer the following research questions: (1) to what extent has environmental identity consolidated throughout the study period? (2) What is the correlation between green energy- and environment-related posts and media coverage of green issues? (3) What is the correlation between green energy- and environmentrelated posts and public reaction to the posts? The objective of the study was to test the following hypothesis: environmental identity has been consolidated throughout the two-year study period
The density of the online debate is independent from the news coverage of environmental topics, which suggests a growing and steady interest in sustainability regardless of whether ‘green topics’ receive high media attention
Summary
The modern-day consumption patterns and rapid technological progress bring about increasing socio-environmental threats [1,2,3,4], whereas natural disasters lead to considerable risks being faced by energy systems [5]. The implementation and support of sustainable development is a key goal of both international organizations [6,7] and national governments [8,9]. The worldwide aim of promoting sustainability emphasizes the importance of balanced development [11] as well as respect for human rights, non-discrimination, and equity. Governments, organizations, communities, and individuals are prioritizing the values of intergenerational equity, respect for human rights and the environment. To ensure a long-term and permanent change, an individual needs to develop an environmental identity, so that attitudes towards energy sustainability result from the core values of one’s individual and social identity. Since most environmental threats have been induced by human behavior, individual sustainable behavior needs to be promoted
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
