Abstract
Abstract This study explored individuals' engagement in the sustainable energy transition in Finland. Using the attitude-behaviour-context model (Guagnano et al., 1995) and Stern's (2000) typology of environmentally significant behaviours, this study tested the assumption that individuals' engagement in transition is a combination of socio-psychological and contextual (socio-economic) variables and that the active engagement requires individuals to have a future orientation, systemic and self-efficacy, subjective knowledge and a pro-environmental attitude. The survey (N = 1012), representative of the 17−75-year-old Finnish population, was analysed with exploratory factor analysis and linear regression. The socio-psychological variables explained a larger portion of variance than the socio-economic variables in all three types of sustainable energy behaviours. The consideration of future consequences, self-efficacy and knowledge were positively associated with all three types of sustainable energy behaviours. Systemic efficacy was positively associated with and the consideration of immediate consequences was negatively associated with private-sphere environmentalism. The results suggest that individuals' consideration of the immediate and distant future should be included in the socio-psychological models of sustainable behaviours. The results also suggest that policymakers need to focus on strengthening citizens' efficacy beliefs, future orientation and knowledge.
Highlights
During the summer of 2018, record-breaking heat waves were experienced almost everywhere in the world, and massive evacuations were necessary in the face of extreme weather events (Washington Post, 2018)
In order to fill this research gap, this study explored individuals' engagement in sustainable energy transitions, which is defined as a futureoriented, collective, bottom-up process operating at multiple levels (Geels, 2004)
This study explored individuals’ self-reported engagement in the sustainable energy transition using a nationally representative survey of the adult population living in Finland
Summary
During the summer of 2018, record-breaking heat waves were experienced almost everywhere in the world, and massive evacuations were necessary in the face of extreme weather events (Washington Post, 2018). In the Nordic countries, the exceptionally hot and dry summer together with the simultaneous release of the ‘IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 C’ elevated climate discussion back on the agenda (FMI, 2018; IPCC, 2018; SMHI, 2018). The energy policy of the European Union (EU) aims to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by a least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 (European Commission, 2017). This transition towards a climate-friendly energy system would mean switching to the production and consumption of sustainable energy forms and increasing energy efficiency options in the transport, industry and building sectors (IPCC, 2018)
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