Public Attitude towards Nuclear and Renewable Energy as a Factor of Their Development in a Circular Economy Frame: Two Case Studies

Anzhelika Karaeva,Elena Cristina Rada,Paolo Viotti,Vincenzo Torretta,Elena Magaril

doi:10.3390/su14031283

Anzhelika Karaeva, Elena Cristina Rada + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031283

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Abstract

Nowadays, most countries of the world are implementing the transition to the low-carbon economy which implies the need to carry out a full-scale eco-modernization of the energy sector. Green energy may be identified as one of the core concerns of energy sector modernization as it allows a considerable decrease in emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere. Therefore, nuclear and renewable energy may become key areas of global energy development in the near future, which is also in agreement with circular economy concepts. However, public opinion (and other controversial visions/aspects) is one of the barriers to their development. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between attitudes towards nuclear and renewable energy in two countries: a EU country (Italy) and a non-EU country (Russia), considering the level of their development. The authors conducted a survey among residents regarding their attitude towards nuclear and renewable energy, as well as their attitude to the present energy policy. The cluster analysis technique was used to analyze the results. The obtained results confirmed the dependence between the level of development of nuclear and renewable energy and the public attitude towards it. The national energy policy also might influence public opinion on the development of nuclear or renewable energy. The authors identified public attitude as one of the key factors in the development of energy and the achievement of environmental and social sustainability.

Highlights

In 2015, the world community prepared and accepted the Paris Agreement that sets a global climate goal for all mankind—to keep the increase in the average temperature on the planet within 2 ◦ C from the pre-industrial level [1]
Russian respondents showed mostly the positive attitude towards nuclear energy development, owing to the level of development of nuclear energy in Russia: currently, the Government of the Russian Federation is implementing a number of large-scale projects for the construction of nuclear power plants in the regions and supports scientific and technical research in this industry; the majority of Italian respondents showed a negative attitude towards nuclear energy and its potential development that is due to the current policy of the Italian government in the field of energy and the high level of development of renewable energy in the country
The results of cluster analysis demonstrated a different attitude of young people in Russia and Italy towards nuclear energy

Summary

Introduction

In 2015, the world community prepared and accepted the Paris Agreement that sets a global climate goal for all mankind—to keep the increase in the average temperature on the planet within 2 ◦ C (in the best scenario no higher than 1.5 ◦ C) from the pre-industrial level [1]. Considering the circular economy (CE) concepts, many countries are developing or already following the programs to transfer the economy to a new sustainable and low-carbon path of its development, attract investments in the development of green technologies, and force polluting enterprises to reduce emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere [8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. Sustainability 2022, 14, 1283 technologies, and force polluting enterprises to reduce emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere [8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. Technologies, and force polluting enterprises to reduce emissions of harmful substances.

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