Page 67 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2018 publication

Winter 2018 European Energy Innovation 67
of Germans, the issues of social
equality and participation are
very important in the case of the
Energiewende. They encompass
aspects like sufficient access to
energy for everybody, securing tenants’
rights when landlords decide to
carry out energy upgrades to their
properties, distributing the costs of
the transformation in a way that is
perceived to be fair, and the expansion
of onshore wind capacities. Where CO2
pricing is concerned, a broad majority
(77%) believes that higher charges
for driving a car with a combustion
engine, flying, or heating with oil or
gas are acceptable if they contribute
to climate protection. However, half
of the population (46%) would like
to see those charges balanced out
by some form of financial relief in
another area (see figure 2).
The Barometer’s findings on public
participation also suggest that the
success of the Energiewende is
anything but a foregone conclusion.
Most people want to take part in it,
but many are sceptical about the
opportunities and parameters for
doing so. Much more needs to be
done in terms of communication,
education, and financial support
to empower all sections of the
population in this regard.
Conclusion
There is a growing consensus that
the Energiewende will not succeed
without the broad approval and
involvement of the population. But
there is little evidence that this insight Barometer may not deliver concrete
is shaping policymaking in tangible
ways. We urgently need to rethink
our approach here. To date, the
implementation of the Energiewende
has been dictated far too much
by economic and technological
considerations. In the Energiewende
Monitoring Report published annually
by the Federal Ministry for Economic
Affairs and Energy (BMWi), only two
social indicators (employment and
affordability) are mentioned.
That’s why we welcome the fact
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
THE ENERGIEWENDE
MOST GERMANS WANT SOME FORM OF FINANCIAL RELIEF
FROM RISING FOSSIL FUEL PRICES
Imagine that you were told that, for climate protection reasons, you had to pay more
for driving a car with a petrol or diesel engine, flying, or heating with oil or gas.
What would your reaction be?
28 I I could accept that. 2018 46 I I could only accept that
[%]
13 I I would find that if my financial burden was
eased in other areas.
unacceptable
because I cannot afford it. 1 I Don’t know.
12 I I find that unacceptable
in principle.
(n = 6.476) | Source: IASS/dynamis 2018
that the independent expert For more information contact:
commission charged with observing
the monitoring process has, in its Dr Bianca Schröder
statement on the latest Monitoring Press and Communications
Report, proposed new indicators Officer
to highlight the significance of the Institute for Advanced
“social dimension” for the further Sustainability Studies e.V. (IASS)
implementation of the energy Berliner Straße 130
transition and alerted the government 14467 Potsdam
to the need for action on this front. Germany
In the case of two of those indicators
(overall support for the Energiewende Tel: +49 (0) 331-28822-341
and satisfaction with the way it is Mobile: +49 (0) 151-12019041
being implemented), the experts Email: bianca.schroeder@
draw on the Social Sustainability iass-potsdam.de
Barometer. Web: www.iass-potsdam.de
Twitter: @IASS_Potsdam
It is safe to assume that the issue
of fairness will play an increasingly
important role as the implementation
of the Energiewende proceeds. The
policy recommendations, but it is
a valuable source of data that can
guide policymakers as they rise to
the challenges this transformation
presents. l
Reference
Setton, D., Matuschke, I., Renn, O. 2017/ Social Sustainability Barometer
for the German Energiewende 2017: Core statements and summary of
the key findings. – IASS Study, November 2017.DOI:
http://doi.org/10.2312/iass.2017.028