3.  THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VARIOUS VIEWPOINTS IN ENERGY SOLUTIONS

Opinions about the importance of the various principles of energy policy were surveyed with a question in which respondents had to estimate ten central viewpoints of energy policy according to how important they consider these viewpoints in decisions concerning energy generation.

These premises give us a relatively clear profile. Citizens consider availability (63% consider it as extremely important), safety (61%) and security of generation and supplies (57%) as the most important points in energy generation. Somewhat less prioritised, although important, are such points as various environmental considerations (non-polluting/environmentally friendly 46%), and a related point 'no greenhouse gas emissions' (does not accelerate the greenhouse effect/climate change 45%) [Figure 14.].

The less emphasised features include low energy price (38%), employment effect (31%) and degree of domestic origin (29%). When interpreting this result, it should be remembered that this question screens the most essential considerations among the important points. This means that the last-mentioned features are also considered as important. So public opinion can be interpreted so that it is important that the price of energy is low, but not at the expense of availability or safety.

Comparison of these results with the earlier results shows significant reconsideration. In the 21st century the emphasis is fairly different from that of the 80s and the beginning of the 90s (this series of questions was included in several measurements in the first stage of the survey period, and it was long waiting for an update). As a whole the time series tells us that citizens' orientation in energy policy has become 'harder'. 'Soft' environmental and safety considerations have lost part of their importance and, simultaneously, 'hard' viewpoints such as availability, security of generation and economy, have increased their importance. Safety was ranked as number one in all of the measurements (only part of them are shown in the figure) from 1984 to 1991 [Figure 15.].

Even though the mutual order of importance of the viewpoints is mostly the same in the assessments of the various population groups, there is no complete harmony. The gender of the respondent, which is a significant factor dividing people's energy opinions in general, is considerably reflected in the assessments. Women tend to emphasise safety and non-pollutant features of energy generation more than men, while men's assessments focus relatively more on the importance of security of generation and availability of energy (no figure).

A particularly clear divider of opinions is attitude towards nuclear power. Supporters of nuclear power strongly prefer such points as availability, security of generation and economic advantageousness of energy. On the other hand, opponents clearly emphasise more the non-pollutant features, safety and renewability. This result refers to the difference of valuations among the supporters and opponents of nuclear power, but it also shows the pros and cons in the use of nuclear power as seen by these groups [Figure 16.].

With reference to the recent nuclear power discussion, this division gives us an opportunity for a sarcastic remark. Although the prevention of climate change was one of the main arguments among the spokesmen for nuclear power, the result shows that anti-nuclear people consider this point as fundamentally more important. Naturally, you could ask a counter-question for the sake of objectivity: why those people who consider non-pollutant features as a primary consideration do not support a non-pollutant generation method.