3.1. The importance of viewpoints on energy solutions

The survey also studied attitudes towards energy issues that have no direct connection to the forms of energy. Opinions on the importance of different kinds of energy-related political principles were surveyed with a question in which respondents had to assess ten views that are of energy-related political importance; respondents had to say how important it is for them that these are considered in the decisions concerning energy generation.

The premises show a relatively clear profile. People consider that the most important issues in energy production are safety (65% consider this very important and 27% important), security of production and supply (57% + 34%) and availability (58% + 33%). The different opinions, which include a positive attitude towards the environment (non-polluting/friendliness to the environment 53% + 31%) and the 'lack of greenhouse gas emissions' (does not increase the greenhouse effect/climate change 50% + 30%), are somewhat less prioritised, but still quite important [Figure 15.].

The significance of self-sufficiency in electricity generation (38% + 38%) and the use of renewable energy sources (42% + 32%) are emphasised a little less than the above-mentioned issues. That energy provides jobs (29% + 32%), its origin is Finnish (34% + 33%) and the price is affordable (39% + 29%) are relatively less important. The interpretation of the result should be made considering the question sifts out the most important issues from several important matters. Thus, the issues mentioned last are also considered important. The public verdict can be interpreted in such way that it is important that energy is affordable (or Finnish/creates jobs) but this cannot be achieved by sacrificing safety or availability. When assessing the job creation factor of energy production, which is ranked in last place, it must be observed that people are mostly considering the direct job creation effect and not so much the indirect effects of energy solutions that extend to the development dynamics of the whole of society.

If the results as a whole are interpreted in the light of a more general division into two energy ideologies, it can be seen that the so-called soft and hard energy-related political premises are in public opinion tied to each other so smoothly that neither of these wins (at the beginning of the list, there is a soft safety issue followed by two hard safety issues, i.e. the security of production and availability, etc.).

When comparing the results with those of six years ago (the series of questions were last included in the survey in 2003), it can be seen that the setting has remained quite the same. The issue of Finnish origin has increased the most in importance. In addition, the non-polluting effect and friendliness to the environment (does not increase the greenhouse effect) are somewhat more important than previously. A decrease in importance can be seen mainly for availability [Figure 16.].

If the comparison of the changes is taken further into the past, significant re-orientation can be seen. In the 2000s, attitudes have been quite different to those surveyed in the 1980s and at the beginning of the 1990s (the series of questions was included in several surveys at the beginning of the follow-up, but since then it has twice been waiting to be updated for a long time). As a whole, the time series shows that peoples' energy-related politic orientation has become 'harder'. The 'soft' environmental and safety viewpoints lost their emphasis between 1986 and 2003, while the 'hard' availability, security of production and economic viewpoints gained more importance. Although the result does not substantially deviate from the previous one, it still shows a certain breaking of a trend. The non-polluting factor and safety, which have been decreasing, have now gained more importance. The fact that safety was ranked as the most important issue in all surveys until 1991 could be explained by the historical background of the time period, at least to some extent. The safety aspect was emphasised due to the atmosphere after the Chernobyl accident [Figure 17.].

Although the relative order of priority of the viewpoints is much the same in the surveys of different population groups, the level of mutual understanding is not completely in harmony. Gender - a factor that substantially divides attitudes towards energy in general - is considerably reflected in the assessments. Women emphasise the safety of energy production, non-polluting factors and other soft premises far more than men. Men's assessments stress more the importance of the security of production and the availability of energy [Figure 18.].

Viewpoints are especially and significantly differentiated by a person's opinion on nuclear power. Those in favour of nuclear power strongly prefer the availability of energy and the security of production. In addition, the importance of economic affordability and self-sufficiency are emphasised. On the other hand, those opposing nuclear power place far more emphasis on safety, friendliness to the environment and renewability. The result provides indications not only on the differences in opinions between those in favour of nuclear power and those against it, but also on what are the pros and cons of nuclear power considered by the groups [Figure 19.].