On Thursday 28 March 2019, the Centre for Energy Policy held ‘Stop talking tech – why should people care about energy technology and policy?’ part of the Energy Conversation series of events. Read the Centre for Energy Policy team's reflections on this popular event below.
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Dr Oluwafisayo Alabi Research Associate, Centre for Energy Policy oluwafisayo.alabi@strath.ac.uk |
We are in unprecedented times as we focus on transitioning to a low carbon future. The role of energy technology and policy in this regard cannot overlooked.
However, a crucial element to this is that energy actors and policy makers need to begin to better engage and communicate to consumers’ and the wider public the challenge at hand and their role(s) in actualising and sustaining a low carbon future. Clear, achievable, and relatable narratives need to be developed, in order to reshape the fundamental philosophy and social acceptability that constitutes and underpins the low carbon vision.
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Constantin Brod |
With the question ‘Why should people care about energy technology and policy?’ come a range of considerations and concerns on who is going to pay for future policies. This is followed by ‘How shall be paid for this’? The discussion focussed particularly on the issue of energy poverty, where it was seen as very critical that financing of future policies should be made through taxes on energy. It was also discussed that the fuel poor have other concerns than thinking about how energy policy may be shaped and how future climate change is changing this planet.
While policy makers may not expect that those households actually start thinking about policies and suddenly adjust a wide set of behaviours towards sustainability, they can follow a different approach: big changes are made in many small steps. By starting to stimulate small behavioural adjustments or even establishing new societal codes of adequate behaviour (e.g. ‘using plastic cups is bad’), change may be reached quicker than by requesting a large burdening ‘total adjustment’.
From this the questions arises: How much engagement with energy topics and how much adjusted behaviour can be expected at once?
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Dr Christian Calvillo Research Associate, Centre for Energy Policy christian.calvillo@strath.ac.uk |
Public engagement in energy policy seems to have been insufficient so far. Communication and engagement mechanisms has not been effective in allowing the public to understand and participate in the policy making progress. The challenge then comes in making the public to buy-in in the changes we need for the energy transition.
However, it is not as simple as just switching energy suppliers, it will involve changes at all levels, from the way we eat, we work, we move around, and pretty much how we live. Government can assist in reducing that complexity, developing policy narratives that people can relate to and participate. Even if it is only one thing at a time, we need to start using less of everything and to be more savvy on the products we buy and use.
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Dr Antonios Katris Research Associate, Centre for Energy Policy antonios.katris@strath.ac.uk |
A rather interesting point was raised regarding general public engagement with energy policy. To facilitate this, it is key to give the general public the option to do things that are small but doable. The development of appropriate narratives, which will stimulate public engagement and ultimately help in gaining momentum, is a crucial part of the process.
This way a commonly occurring issue, that in energy policy there is a tendency to focus on the big strategic goals instead what can be done now, can be addressed and create the feeling among the citizens that they have a role to play in achieving our energy goals.
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Kusum Vishwakarma Researcher, Centre for Energy Policy kusum.a.vishwakarma@strath.ac.uk |
It was evident from the last conversation that although people belong to different fields, they do possess a sense of responsibility and understanding of how they look at the recent trends in Renewable energy technologies but there is still not enough talk or conversation we hear about energy policies.
So to advocate a change in lifestyle or how we look at certain technologies or products is not something that can be achieved as quickly as anticipated. Because it also has to do with people’s intention of how they use a particular product which might be of great value but have irreversible negative impacts. Consumer engagement through these policies is very important because not many people care about what damage and threats are we bringing upon ourselves by causing damage to our environment or the way we are consuming products today. There is a good discussion about everything from building technologies to decarbonisation to energy management but the government and industries need to ease the level of interaction with consumers and rather have policies that voice their opinions.
The technologies exist and will continue to exist but it all comes down to political will, proper policy investments and agreed plan of action for the consumers to reap the benefits.
Tags: Energy