Kansalaisten ja energiaeliitin Suomen energiapolitiikkaa koskevat asenteet vuosina 2007-2016 : kuilu vai konsensus?

Författare

• Ilkka Ruostetsaari

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse whether the attitudinal distance between the Finnish energy elite and the citizenry has changed with respect to the energy policy from 2007 to 2016. The research period was characterized by an international economic crisis, domestic recession, and a political scandal, all of which may have decreased citizens’ trust in policy-making and makers. In order to test the hypothesis in which the attitudinal distance between the energy elite and the citizenry has not widened with respect to energy policy from 2007 to 2016, we analysed the attitudes of the energy elite and the citizenry with respect to three points: the distribution of influence in energy policy-making, the utilization of various energy sources in energy production in the future, and the role of various actors or activities in solving environmental problems caused by production and consumption of energy. Methodologically the study was based on surveys and interviews conducted among the energy elite and the citizenry in 2007 and 2016. The hypothesis was mainly verified: the attitudinal distance between the energy elite and the citizenry in addition to the agree­ment among both of these groups in terms of energy policy-making decreased.