The Role of Moral Foundations in the Energy Transition
| dc.contributor.author | Bedle, Heather | |
| dc.contributor.author | Garneau, Christopher R.H. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Stanfield, Rory | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-07-03T21:32:27Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-07-03T21:32:27Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-06 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Public support for renewable energy and climate policies is crucial for the success of the energy transition. While previous research has established the influence of political ideology on energy preferences, the role of moral foundations in shaping these attitudes remains underexplored. This study examined the relationships between moral foundations and support for renewable energy (solar and wind) and fossil fuel reduction policies, while controlling for political orientation and other relevant factors. Using data from an online national survey of 2,188 U.S. adults, we employ binary logistic regression analyses to test the independent associations of the five moral foundations (care, fairness, authority, loyalty, purity) with energy policy preferences. The results reveal that the individualizing foundations of care and fairness consistently predict higher support for renewable energy and lower support for fossil fuels, even after accounting for political ideology. In contrast, the binding foundation of authority is negatively associated with renewable energy support, while loyalty predicts opposition to decreasing fossil fuel use. Results also demonstrate that moral foundations play a distinct role in shaping public attitudes towards energy transition policies, beyond the influence of political orientation. The care and fairness foundations emerge as potential drivers of support for renewable energy and climate action across the political spectrum. Conversely, the authority and loyalty foundations may contribute to resistance to energy system changes, particularly among conservatives. We highlight the importance of considering moral concerns in the design and communication of energy transition strategies. Policymakers and advocates could leverage moral foundations theory to craft targeted messages and policies that resonate with different segments of the public. By aligning climate and energy initiatives with widely shared moral values, it may be possible to build broader coalitions of support for the energy transition. Further research is needed to test the effectiveness of morally-framed interventions in shifting energy attitudes and behaviors. | en_US |
| dc.description.peerreview | No | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | Bedle, H., Garneau, C.R.H., & R. Stanfield (2024). The Role of Moral Foundations in the Energy Transition. SPEER Research Report. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/11244/340464 | |
| dc.language | en_US | en_US |
| dc.rights | Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International | * |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ | * |
| dc.subject | Psychology, Social. | en_US |
| dc.subject | Energy. | en_US |
| dc.title | The Role of Moral Foundations in the Energy Transition | en_US |
| dc.type | Other | en_US |
| ou.group | Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy | en_US |