Single title
The climate crisis raises the urgency of the transition to a more sustainable economy. In this context Greece, in line with the European Union's energy and climate policy, has set ambitious targets to guide and accelerate its Green Transition. The transition to a low-carbon economy implies fundamental changes in the production processes, supply chains and consumption patterns.
Public perceptions of the required changes are crucial for the success of the Green Transition, as any resistance may lead to delays or cancellations of projects. A related study for Germany shows that strong resistance to new technologies can increase the cost of transition in Germany by up to 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while widespread acceptance can reduce this cost to 0.4% of GDP. Understanding public perceptions and attitudes to the Green Transition in general and the expansion of renewable energy technologies in particular, and the key drivers of these attitudes, is particularly important to ensure that climate targets are met at the lowest possible social cost.
In more detail, the study explores public perceptions of the climate crisis and climate policy, such as concerns about the global climate crisis, the importance of mitigation and adaptation to climate change, as well as the degree of acceptance of climate targets. Also considered are perceptions of the costs and benefits of the green transition, potential behavioural changes relevant to climate change, perceptions of existing renewable energy installations, readiness to accept new installations (at home, in the neighbourhood, within sight, in other places), key objections to renewable energy and other green projects, and perceptions of how to mitigate objections through the provision of compensation. Finally, the survey includes questions on socio-economic, political and demographic characteristics of the population, such as education level, occupation, political affiliation, main sources of information on social and political issues, region of residence, age and gender of the respondents.
