The comparison of the latest results with those received a year earlier reveals that there are fairly few changes on the whole. However, interesting trends can be seen in the results over the longer term. The shift detected in the latest measurements has continued in the same direction for a number of energy forms. In practice, the attitudes towards all fossil fuels are now more critical than previously [Figure 2a.] and [Figure 2b.].

The increasing trend in the rejection of coal has continued. Even though not many steps were left in the scale last time, this did not mean the final point of the development towards a more negative attitude. The present figures are almost desolate and substantially more negative than the rock-bottom figures in the early 1990s (which were made even gloomier by the debate over forest death and acid rain at the time). Undoubtedly the development of attitudes has been speeded up by the debate over climate change, in which coal has been given a clear role as scapegoat. With the start of emission trading the energy form has received an outright outcast status. It is evident that since 1986, when the use of coal was hoped to be increased rather than decreased, the support for coal has declined radically. In the co-generation of power and heat, the attitude towards coal is somewhat more permissive, however (not in the figure).

The support for peat shows ‘curving’, gradual increases and decreases in acceptance, in the current results as well. The attitudes during the past few years reflect a declining trend. The distribution shows to some extent more reservations compared to the previous year, and the last peak of support six years back (in 1999) is even farther away. Nevertheless, the latest attitudes towards peat are not too far from the mean value of the entire follow-up period. It does not seem likely that the long-term trend in the fluctuation in attitudes is directly connected to the debate on greenhouse gas emissions. The judgement on peat given by emission trading – on whose justification a pungent debate is rising in our country – is nevertheless probably reflected in the latest figures.

The popularity of natural gas is similar to the previous year’s figures. However, the history of the opinions on this energy form is peculiar. Its permanent popularity in the early part of the follow-up period – the attitudes towards this energy form remained incomparably positive for sixteen years – showed a visible downswing six years ago. After this somewhat surprising change, the figures became even more negative, as if they were seeking the correct level. The results of the three latest measurements indicate that the attitudes are stabilising. It seems that there are several reasons for the development of attitudes. According to the other results in the study, there is increasing concern about the availability and price development of gas. The recent discussion about green electricity may be one reason for this. Natural gas, which is traditionally regarded as environmentally friendly, has had no place in the contest as it is a fossil fuel.

On the other hand, the popularity of hydropower has held on for a long time. The extensive acceptance of this energy form has continued for a noteworthy period. When examined by decade, the support development even takes a rising shape. The average opinions in the 1990s were more accepting than those in the 1980s, and those in the 2000s are more accepting than those in the 1990s. The current figures are close to representing the greatest sympathies towards hydropower in the entire follow-up period. However, this steady support in principle is probably still overshadowed by a contradiction between support in principle and practical measures: the building of new hydropower plants is shunned due to the disadvantages for the fishing industry and the environment. However, it is deemed that this problem can be alleviated by building so-called fish ladders.

Opinions on nuclear power have practically remained at the same level as in the previous measurement. The difference can primarily be seen in the growth in the percentages of neutral attitudes¹. The result is significant due to the fact that the two previous measurements (2003 and 2004) registered the most positive figures for nuclear power in the entire follow-up period. Thus the change observed in them has remained effective, and we cannot say that this indicates a sporadic fluctuation in public opinion or statistical random variation. This interpretation is supported by the development of attitudes immediately preceding the results in question. Several smaller steps in the same direction have been observed since the downswing at the turn of the millennium – in the autumn of 2000 the support for this energy form had dropped below the average. The change in attitudes is also assessed later in connection with the attitudes towards a fifth nuclear power plant (Chapter 2.).

Wood and other bioenergy sources now proved to be at least as desired sources of energy for electricity generation as in the previous years. The support is not only strong, but also relatively stable. This fuel category has only been included in the comparative series of questions in six measurements, so we cannot present a longer-term development for its support. The remaining follow-up questions on the use of wood, however, indicate a steady trend of positive basic attitudes. Domestic origin and employment considerations have been deemed the key factors in favour of the use of wood as an energy source.

In the case of wind power the indicator has not quite remained in the previous peak figures – even if the distribution is unambiguously oblique towards acceptance. As is the case with wood, this form of energy has only been included in the comparison six times. Even earlier, the popularity of wind power has always proved to be high in practice when this question has been brought up in any form. Views on wind power are also examined in this study under the subject of alternative energy forms (Chapter 5.).

On the other hand, oil – another more recent candidate in the comparison – is not a popular choice. Attitudes towards the use of oil as an energy source in electricity generation (naturally, the principal uses of oil are elsewhere) are now even more negative than earlier. Even though the time series in a certain period already indicated a certain alleviation of criticism, the two latest measurements indicate that this stage has ended. The distribution of this time has shown more rejection than ever before. In addition to its dark image, oil is burdened by its price, which has risen high and is sensitive to fluctuations caused by the world political situation

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