On the Socio-Cultural Determinants of Polish Entrepreneurs’ Attitudes towards the Development of Renewable Energy: Business, Climate Skepticism Ideology and Climate Change

Piotr Żuk,Paweł Żuk

doi:10.3390/en14123418

Abstract

This article analyses the business community in Poland and their views on climate change and the objectives of the European Green Deal (EGD). The authors focus on the analysis of the attitude of entrepreneurs towards the cultural and ideological stereotypes promoted by climate denialists. This article shows that the ideological factor may play a certain role in shaping the attitudes of entrepreneurs towards energy transition. The research was carried out on a sample of 400 entrepreneurs. The research results indicate that the ideological factor is of particular importance among entrepreneurs who are concerned about the costs of energy transition and the expenditure related to the implementation of the EGD for economic reasons. According to the authors, the stereotypes promoted by climate sceptics may find fertile ground, particularly when accompanied by fears of additional financial costs. Attitudes towards the goals of energy transition among entrepreneurs usually differ depending on the size of the company: representatives of smaller companies, who have greater concerns about their economic position, are more likely to present the views of climate sceptics. Acceptance for the theory of climate sceptics may also be influenced by the industry sector: those who may lose out on energy transition, such as representatives of the mining industry, may share the myths of climate denialists.

Highlights

Accepted: 9 June 2021Achieving the goals of the European Green Deal (EGD) and climate neutrality by the countries of the European Union (EU) by 2050 requires the engagement of states and governments and, above all, of the various sectors of civil society, individual and business prosumers, local and civic associations involved in the development of civic energy, as well as local authorities and entrepreneurs
The climate threat is shown as an element of propaganda, which serves to strengthen foreign companies at the expense of domestic ones from the sector based on coal and other fossil sources in the energy market. How does this message affect the opinions of entrepreneurs in Poland? Almost 60% reject these stereotypes, but as many as 37% of entrepreneurs agree with the opinion that “information about the so-called global warming is all about business—certain groups earn a lot of money by making people fear or feel guilty” (Table 1)
This article shows that the ideological factor may play a certain role in shaping the attitudes of entrepreneurs towards energy transition

Summary

Introduction

Achieving the goals of the European Green Deal (EGD) and climate neutrality by the countries of the European Union (EU) by 2050 requires the engagement of states and governments and, above all, of the various sectors of civil society, individual and business prosumers, local and civic associations involved in the development of civic energy, as well as local authorities and entrepreneurs. In this sense, legal acts and resolutions adopted by the EU and its member states and additional financial outlays are not sufficient, and the bottom-up involvement of various social actors is required. As regards acceptance for renewable energy, the three main elements of this process are indicated: market acceptance (concerns the investors and project developers, energy suppliers, utilities and grid owners, as well as all kinds of consumers), socio-political acceptance (concerns the opinion of the respective energy technology as an acceptable and useful technology and the tone of the debate in the media, politics and national institutions), community acceptance concerns the opinion of the people living in the Published: 9 June 2021

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