Page 65 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2018 publication

Winter 2018 European Energy Innovation 65

THE ENERGIEWENDE

Social sustainability is a must

By Daniela Setton, Senior Research Associate, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS)
Potsdam, Germany

against a rise in fuel taxes that we population with regard to central

are currently witnessing in France is aspects of the Energiewende and

evidence of what can happen when highlights areas where there is a need

people’s sense of justice is offended for political action. Its main empirical

by the decisions politicians make. basis is an annual panel survey of

over 6,500 German households.

What can be done to ensure that

the energy transition is socially The main idea behind a socially

sustainable? And where do we sustainable energy transition is that

stand on that score in Germany? the needs, wishes, preferences, and

These are the questions that the feelings of broad sections of the

IASS systematically addresses in the population are taken into account

context of the Dynamis partnership when planning and implementing the

Daniela Setton (www.dynamis-online.de). Its findings transformation. All parts of society
©IASS/Lotte Ostermann
are presented in the annual “Social should feel equally included in the
The Energiewende or
energy transition is one Sustainability Barometer for the process and have the opportunity
of Germany’s largest and
most ambitious reforms. German Energiewende” (first edition: to play an active role in it. What I’m
It is the centrepiece of the Federal
Government’s efforts to achieve the 2017), which provides comprehensive talking about here is meaningful
emissions reduction targets agreed
in the Paris Climate Agreement. But empirical data on the social participation in transformation
it amounts to far more than a mere
technological challenge. As a broad dimensions of the Energiewende. processes and not calculated
societal task, the Energiewende also
depends on the cooperation, political Every year, the Barometer takes stock strategies for procuring public
support, and active participation of
all parts of society. of the attitudes, sense of justice, acceptance. In support of the former,

experiences, and preferences of we need to gather information

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY BAROMETERdifferent sections of the German
on how the population views and

FOR THE GERMAN ENERGIEWENDE 2017How fair or unfair is the German Energiewende? The Social Sustainability

Barometer gauges the attitudes of the population on an annual basis.
©IASS

Without the broad agreement and UNFAIR FAIR
approval of the German population,
the large-scale expansion of wind
and solar power plants and other
essential infrastructure, such as
grids and storage facilities, will not
be possible. People’s willingness
to change their behaviour and
consumption habits – by switching
to energy-efficient technologies
in the home or more sustainable
modes of transport, for example – is
another prerequisite for the required
transformation. Public acceptance
of political reforms is also essential.
The protests of the “gilets jaunes”

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