SRA-E Lisbon 2017

Climate change continues to be a growing risk, yet much attention has been placed on changing energy supply, rather than altering energy demand. This dissertation aims to understand the importance of energy efficiency and consumption (EE&C) to UK publics, and understand the relationship between EE&C and varying public perceptions of climate change in the UK. 100 members of the public in South Buckinghamshire and Tower Hamlets were interviewed using qualitative and quantitative methods. There is a relationship between EE&C uptake and increased public perceptions of climate change, however further analysis of barriers, and the added local comparative analysis suggests there is no single, general route to successful EE&C policy implementation in the UK, whether on a national or local level. Knowledge-based, trust-based, and cognitive barriers are found to affect uptake of EE&C methods. Knowledge and understanding of most effective energy-saving behavioural changes remains lower, and divergent, to expert understanding. Variations between groups in the two survey sites suggest that singular and centralised government climate policy should not be as prevalent in promoting EE&C schemes, instead transferring power to local authorities with greater trust levels. Research conducted and data presented in a dissertation as part of an MSc in Risk Analysis at King’s College London.