Public Energy Preferences from the Perspective of Climate Change Mitigation

Laws and plans for environmental protection and mitigation of climate change is a tough challenge for governmental organizations at the highest levels. A need to ensure a more sustainable future requires strict actions backed by constant support from the public, and yet there is always a risk that the public will not accept any new strategies, if they do not reflect their personal concerns. This paper presents an investigation into how climate change concerns affect the public’s energy preferences. It also reports energy security concerns and the political preferences related to climate change, and how this has to be considered in increasing the support for new political tools in the energy sector. The analysis is based on the data gathered from a representative public survey conducted during October–November 2018 in Lithuania and reveal how concerns about climate change affect the public’s preference for energy generated from renewable sources also lessening the preference for fossil fuels and other non-sustainable options.