Energy Research & Social Science最新文献

{"title":"The injustice of just transitions: How the neglect of the green division of labour cements African dependencies","authors":"Pritish Behuria","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.104007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.104007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Just transition discussions have been mainstreamed within global climate policy. Yet ‘just transition’ discussions have often overlooked production-based inequities. This paper argues that reducing attention to production inequities contributes to sustaining rent capture among European, North American and East Asian firms while reducing space for rents being used to enhance economic autonomy in African countries. ‘Just transition’ discussions are overshadowing how African countries have been adversely incorporated into the green division of labour in two ways, thereby reducing possibilities for effective rent management. First, African countries depend on the imports of solar panels, wind turbines and most other renewable energy technologies. Second, despite continued African hopes to invest in processing critical minerals, there remains inadequate assistance forthcoming from North America, Europe or East Asia. Instead, ‘Just transition’ advocates have focused on inequities associated with labour and loss of land, placing the onus on African countries to solve their own labour injustices resulting from energy transitions. While there is limited funding available to address within-country injustices, the anti-productivist bias within just transition discussions fail to address inter-country injustices either. Advocacy and momentum around ‘just transitions’ has side-lined attention to the injustice of Africa's adverse incorporation into the green division of labour.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 104007"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143487720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rethinking energy transition: Approaches from social representations theory","authors":"Júlio J. Conde ,&nbsp;Harumi Takano-Rojas","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.104001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.104001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Energy transition depends not only on technological and economic changes but is also deeply embedded in the complex social and cultural factors that shape it. However, existing reviews on energy perceptions often focus on psychological, economic, or policy-driven approaches, overlooking the symbolic and discursive dimensions shaping public understanding and engagement. To address this gap, this literature review examines the role of Social Representations Theory (SRT) in understanding societal perspectives on energy transition. Using content analysis, we synthesize and critically assess how SRT has been applied to examine the shared values, beliefs, and experiences that influence societal responses to energy policies and projects. Our findings highlight the theory's potential to uncover how different groups construct and negotiate meanings around energy transition. While SRT-based studies emphasize the importance of social acceptance, we identify a key limitation: an overemphasis on community acceptance of renewable energy without sufficiently questioning the broader socio-economic paradigms driving the energy transition. This review underscores the need for a holistic approach that integrates social, cultural, and political dimensions to address the complexities of energy transition, moving beyond a technological substitution perspective. By positioning SRT as a valuable framework for understanding the social aspects of energy transition, this study contributes to advancing interdisciplinary discussions and calls for further research incorporating diverse geographic and socio-political contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 104001"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143488322","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seeking common ground? Heterogeneous support for carbon pricing and climate policies across audience segments","authors":"Jeroen Barrez","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103993","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103993","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Public resistance remains a significant barrier to implementing the ambitious climate policies that are needed to limit global warming below 2 degrees. While numerous studies have explored public support for climate policies in general, this paper advances the understanding by investigating whether (lack of) support towards carbon pricing and climate policies is concentrated among specific societal groups. A latent class analysis identifies five distinct audience segments in Belgium based on similar climate attitudes and behavioural intentions: the Alarmed (6.9 %), Concerned (38.3 %), Cautious (36.1 %), Disengaged (15.2 %), and Doubtful (3.6 %), and explores the characteristics of these segments. This research also highlights the heterogeneity in preferences across subgroups and shows that belonging to one segment strongly predicts support for climate policies. The Alarmed are most in favour of these policies, while the Doubtful show the least support. More importantly, this study provides novel insights into the acceptability of carbon pricing policies across these subgroups and reveals how revenue use can make carbon pricing acceptable to segments with more sceptical climate attitudes. More specifically, while environmental earmarking risks resulting in “preaching to the converted”, using revenues for non-climate policies such as reducing labour taxes could make carbon pricing acceptable among the Doubtful and Disengaged segments and lessen the risk of social unrest and contestation. More generally, this research shows that considering the heterogeneity of public preferences offers novel insights, and could ultimately help policymakers design and implement more effective carbon pricing and climate policies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103993"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143471637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gas grid regulation in the context of net zero transitions: A review of seven European countries","authors":"Jan Rosenow ,&nbsp;Marc Stobbe ,&nbsp;Sibylle Braungardt","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103987","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103987","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper addresses the urgent need for reforming gas infrastructure planning in Europe to align with climate targets. Currently, gas grid development is reactive, driven by distribution system operators (DSOs), rather than proactively adapting to declining demand for fossil gas which is required in order to meet climate goals. Drawing on case studies from seven European countries, this paper explores gas grid regulation in the context of net zero. We find that current regulatory frameworks across many countries show a disconnect between infrastructure planning and the necessity to phase out fossil gas. There are, however, first steps being taken now to deal with the challenge of falling gas demand. We draw on those examples and develop policy recommendations for managing the transition away from fossil gas in a more coordinated and fairer way.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103987"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143471638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A systematic mapping study on software approaches analyzing human behavior in energy efficiency","authors":"Thomas Zaragoza,&nbsp;Adel Noureddine,&nbsp;Ernesto Exposito","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103991","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103991","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In light of escalating carbon emissions and the increasing pressures on energy production, we believe it is essential to examine both: 1. The role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as either an enabler or a barrier to sustainability. 2. The role of human behavior, ranging from a contributing factor to energy consumption to a critical element in achieving energy optimizations. To address these factors, we conducted a systematic mapping study on software-based strategies for optimizing energy consumption, with a particular focus on incorporating human involvement in the process. Our findings indicate that ICT often serves as a facilitator of sustainability, especially in residential and commercial environments. However, the role of human behavior is more nuanced. By examining the energy optimization process as a loop consisting of four phases—monitoring, analysis, planning, and action—we found that human involvement spans multiple stages of this loop. While direct intervention in human behavior is commonly accepted and effective in residential contexts, this approach does not translate as directly to ICT, which tends to prioritize automated optimization. The aim of this paper is to raise awareness about these dynamics, explore how ICT is currently utilized to optimize energy use in residential settings, and suggest ways to adapt these approaches to make ICT itself more sustainable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103991"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143465068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding local opposition to renewable energy projects in the nordic countries: A systematic literature review","authors":"Giovanna Sanchez Nieminen ,&nbsp;Essi Laitinen","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103995","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103995","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amid escalating climate pressures, the war in Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis have intensified the demand for renewable energy (RE) sources, accelerating the green energy transition across Europe. This transition is a multifaceted process that goes beyond decarbonization; it disrupts landscapes and is shaped by complex socio-political dynamics, often sparking conflicts at the local level during the planning and construction of RE infrastructures. These conflicts can delay or even obstruct critical energy projects and therefore, an investigation of the causes, core problems, and effects of conflicts is necessary to mediate and prevent them. As the first comprehensive review on local energy conflicts in the Nordic region, this systematic literature review investigates the dynamics of public opposition to RE projects across the Nordic countries. With the inclusion of 60 peer-reviewed articles from 2014 to 2024, we analyzed patterns of public opposition in the region, local conflict dynamics and identified key actors involved. Our findings indicate that local conflicts in the Nordics are multifaceted and driven by concerns over environmental impacts, visual disruption, distrust in regulatory processes, inadequate financial compensation, threats to cultural heritage, health risks, and social stress. By incorporating an energy conflict theoretical framework, we reveal that these conflicts are deeply intertwined with broader social tensions and moral concerns, emphasizing the necessity for equitable and culturally sensitive policies to foster a just energy transition in the Nordic region and beyond.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103995"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143453673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling the power of social norms interventions: Investigating energy savings behavior in an Italian energy cooperative","authors":"Lorenza Tiberio ,&nbsp;Benjamin Kirchler ,&nbsp;Chiara Massullo ,&nbsp;Giuseppe Carrus ,&nbsp;Julia Haider ,&nbsp;Andrea Kollmann ,&nbsp;Federica Caffaro","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103989","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103989","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Behavioural strategies to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainable habits have received increasing attention from economic, psychological, and social sciences. Among these, social norm-based interventions have been proposed as effective tools in psychological research. In this study, we employ a randomized control trial (RCT) to assess the effectiveness of a social norms intervention to encourage energy-saving behaviors among members of an energy cooperative in Italy (<em>N</em> = 442). Anonymised electricity consumption data were collected over one year covering both pre- and post-intervention periods. The intervention lasted eight weeks and involved the dissemination of social norm messages via the cooperative's newsletter. In the RCT, participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups. The first group, the descriptive social norm group, received messages showing the average energy consumption of cooperative members to encourage behavioural change. The second group, the injunctive + descriptive social norm group, received messages combining average consumption data with additional messaging emphasising societal expectations for energy conservation. The third, which served as the control group, received no norm-based messaging and acted as a baseline for comparison.</div><div>Our results show a significant 13 % decrease in electricity consumption among participants exposed to the descriptive social norm message, compared to those in the injunctive + descriptive norms and control groups. This behavioural change also emerged from the findings of a post-intervention self-report survey, indicating consistency between reported and observed behavior.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103989"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143465041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electric vehicles and rooftop solar energy: Consumption values influencing decisions and barriers to co-adoption in the United States","authors":"Stephen Bull ,&nbsp;Koral Buch ,&nbsp;Coco Freling ,&nbsp;Scott Hardman ,&nbsp;Jeremy Firestone","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103990","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103990","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates household decisions regarding adoption of solar panels and plug-in electric vehicles in the United States (CA, CO, FL, MA, MN, TX, VA). Although the adoption of each technology is well-documented, the dynamics of their co-adoption have been understudied. This study uses Theory of Consumption Values to investigate co-adoption decisions. Employing qualitative interviews with co-adopters and single technology adopters, this research uncovers underlying motivations and challenges associated with co-adoption. The study reveals that co-adoption is primarily driven by a blend of functional, emotional, social, epistemic, and conditional values. Key findings indicate that direct connections between the adoption of electric vehicles and solar (conditional value) are uncommon. Instead, many co-adoption decisions are made independently, guided by overlapping consumption values. The study also identifies challenges to co-adoption, including cost, lack of knowledge, and perceived technology incompatibilities. These insights contribute to the broader understanding of complementarity in sustainable technology adoption by households. They also highlight the need for approaches that address identified barriers and facilitate the transition of single adopters to co-adopters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103990"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143465040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Overcoming barriers and seizing opportunities for smart meters in developing countries: Insights from a large-scale field study in India","authors":"Rohit Gupta ,&nbsp;Denise L. Mauzerall ,&nbsp;Sara Constantino ,&nbsp;Gregg Sparkman ,&nbsp;Malini Nambiar ,&nbsp;Elke Weber","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103996","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103996","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rapid deployment of smart meters can expedite the decarbonization of the electricity sector by facilitating effective demand-side management strategies, providing essential feedback to consumers for monitoring their consumption, improving energy accounting, and augmenting the financial solvency of the power sector. However, most of the research on the uptake of smart meters has been conducted in developed nations, where there is better electricity infrastructure and distribution services are often privatized. Understanding the factors influencing smart meter uptake is especially important in developing nations where per capita incomes are rising and consumers' energy consumption will profoundly impact the trajectory of global carbon emissions. Here we identify factors influencing consumers' willingness to adopt smart meters in the city of Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan in India. Based on survey responses from &gt;5000 consumers, our study is the first to examine consumers' reactions towards smart meter installations while meters were being installed in their households, by a state-owned Indian distribution company. In contrast to developed countries, we find that consumers in our study area were mostly concerned about the accuracy of smart meters and the consequent impact on their electricity bills, rather than about data privacy and security. We also find that in addition to various socio-economic factors, community mobilization and local political context impact consumers' decision-making. Smart meters provide electricity distribution companies with a unique set of opportunities (e.g., improving their financial condition and increasing the transparency of meter readings) and challenges (e.g., obtaining public confidence and addressing employee concerns). Our findings suggest that policymakers should consider local socioeconomic, cultural, and political circumstances to accelerate the speed and success of smart meter deployment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103996"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143453637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measuring the invisible: A framework for quantifying energy justice in urban communities in the United States","authors":"Ibrahim Adeiza Ahmed,&nbsp;Etiene Effiong,&nbsp;Lalitha Shanmugasundaram,&nbsp;Lucy Hummer,&nbsp;Robert W. Orttung,&nbsp;Ekundayo Shittu","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103986","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2025.103986","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A disconnect exists between theoretical conceptualizations of energy justice and the practical, policy-oriented approaches needed for real-world decision making and program implementation. Greater attention to quantifying energy justice will likely increase support for high-energy-burden households by facilitating the development of evidence-based, measurable, and targeted policy interventions to better address the needs of marginalized communities. To fill this gap, we develop a conceptual framework that integrates distributive, recognition, and procedural dimensions into quantifying energy justice using Washington, D.C. as a case study. The research employs a set of six metrics - energy burden, renewable energy access, service disconnections, system reliability, utility affordability programs, and public participation - to assess equity across socio-economic groups. Findings reveal that despite the presence of numerous affordability programs and the expansion of solar energy systems, energy affordability is still a significant challenge for low-income households, as evidenced by disproportionately high energy burdens and utility disconnections in vulnerable communities. Additionally, participation in energy forums lacks inclusivity, highlighting a procedural justice gap. Although measuring any form of justice can be challenging, this study's framework provides a simple yet practical model that can be extended to other cities to evaluate energy policy impacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"122 ","pages":"Article 103986"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143445338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}