Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool
Understanding which energy future configurations provide publicly acceptable levels of energy security, affordability, and environmental protection is critical for institutional decision-making. However, little is known about how scenarios influence energy preferences. Here we present nationally rep...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Publishing Group
2017
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47083/ |
| _version_ | 1848797463464378368 |
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| author | Demski, Christina Spence, Alexa Pidgeon, Nick |
| author_facet | Demski, Christina Spence, Alexa Pidgeon, Nick |
| author_sort | Demski, Christina |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Understanding which energy future configurations provide publicly acceptable levels of energy security, affordability, and environmental protection is critical for institutional decision-making. However, little is known about how scenarios influence energy preferences. Here we present nationally representative UK data on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool that encourages engagement with the holistic complexities of system change. Engagement with the tool strengthened existing preferences for renewable energy and intentions to take personal action. Importantly, patterns of energy preferences were influenced by exemplar scenarios, which served as reference points that anchored choices. Carbon capture and storage, nuclear power, biofuels, and changes to heating and travel were particularly impacted by scenarios indicating uncertainty and ambivalence regarding these options. Scenarios (and scenario-building tools) are valuable for engaging citizens about future energy systems. However, care is required in their design and interpretation to reach robust conclusions about underlying preferences and acceptance. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:04:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-47083 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:04:17Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-470832017-10-14T08:43:24Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47083/ Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool Demski, Christina Spence, Alexa Pidgeon, Nick Understanding which energy future configurations provide publicly acceptable levels of energy security, affordability, and environmental protection is critical for institutional decision-making. However, little is known about how scenarios influence energy preferences. Here we present nationally representative UK data on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool that encourages engagement with the holistic complexities of system change. Engagement with the tool strengthened existing preferences for renewable energy and intentions to take personal action. Importantly, patterns of energy preferences were influenced by exemplar scenarios, which served as reference points that anchored choices. Carbon capture and storage, nuclear power, biofuels, and changes to heating and travel were particularly impacted by scenarios indicating uncertainty and ambivalence regarding these options. Scenarios (and scenario-building tools) are valuable for engaging citizens about future energy systems. However, care is required in their design and interpretation to reach robust conclusions about underlying preferences and acceptance. Nature Publishing Group 2017-03-13 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47083/1/Demski%20et%20al%20Nature%20Energy%20my2050%20postprint.pdf Demski, Christina, Spence, Alexa and Pidgeon, Nick (2017) Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool. Nature Energy, 2 . ISSN 1520-8524 Decision making Energy and society Psychology and behaviour http://www.nature.com/articles/nenergy201727 doi:10.1038/nenergy.2017.27 doi:10.1038/nenergy.2017.27 |
| spellingShingle | Decision making Energy and society Psychology and behaviour Demski, Christina Spence, Alexa Pidgeon, Nick Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool |
| title | Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool |
| title_full | Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool |
| title_fullStr | Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool |
| title_short | Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool |
| title_sort | effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool |
| topic | Decision making Energy and society Psychology and behaviour |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47083/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47083/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47083/ |