Sören Holmberg
Department of Political Science Göteborg University
December 2006
Swedish and European Opinions on
Energy Production
Paper/slides presented at a CEFOS international research seminar at the Göteborg University Business School, 7 December 2006: Security, Prosperity and Community – Towards a Common European Energy Policy?
European Attitudes on Nuclear Power
Questsion: ”Are you totally in favour, fairly in favour, fairly opposed or totally opposed to energy produced by nuclear power stations?”
101 16
41 44
10. United Kingdom
100 2
48 50
9. Belgium
101 5
44 52
8. Netherlands
100 7
41 52
7. France
100 4
40 56
6. Slovakia
100 4
38 58
5. Finland
100 13
27 60
4. Lithuania
100 2
37 61
3. Czech Republic
100 3
33 64
2. Sweden
101 5
31 65
1. Hungary
100 8
55 37
EU 25
sum percent don’t know
opposed in favour
Comment: Special Eurobarometer 2005: Radioaktive Waste; fieldwork in February – March 2005. Pluralities in favour.
European Attitudes on Nuclear Power
Questsion: ”Are you totally in favour, fairly in favour, fairly opposed or totally opposed to energy produced by nuclear power stations?”
100 4
88 8
25. Austria
100 5
86 9
24. Greece
101 10
81 10
23. Cyprus
100 17
70 13
22. Ireland
100 13
71 16
21. Spain
100 21
62 17
20. Malta
100 26
53 21
19. Portugal
100 8
66 26
18. Poland
100 5
66 29
17. Denmark
101 5
66 30
16. Italy
100 4
65 31
15. Luxembourg
101 4
59 38
14. Germany
100 12
49 39
13. Latvia
100 10
50 40
12. Estonia
101 3
54 44
11. Slovenia
100 8
55 37
EU 25
sum percent don’t know
opposed in favour
Comment: Special Eurobarometer 2005: Radioactive Waste; fieldwork in February – March 2005. Pluralities opposed.
Swedes on the use of nuclear power as an energy source
33 50
36 39
34 44 42
50 57 58 56
61 64 64 64 57 57
66 65 71 75
46 45
38 39 36
26 28 26
26 23 22
21 21 27 25
24 20 16 12
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Use Abolish
Use
Abolish
Data: SOM-Institute, Göteborg University; Annual nationwide surveys in Sweden; Sample size 3000 persons 15-85 years old;
Mail questionnaires with an average response rate of 65 percent. Question: What is your view on the long term use of nuclear power as an energy source in Sweden?” Five response alternatives: ”abolish nuclear power by 2010 at the latest; abolish nuclear power, but not until our present reactors have done their job; use nuclear power and renew the reactors when they are worn out;
use nuclear power and build additional reactors in the future; no definite opinion.” In 1986, the don´t know response was missing.
Comment: All respondents are included in the percent calculations. Principal investigator: Sören Holmberg, phone +4631 7731227, e-mail: soren.holmberg@pol.gu.se. All data processed by Rudolf Antoni.
Percent in favor of abolishing nuclear power among Swedish women and men
Data: SOM-Institute, Göteborg University; Annual nationwide surveys in Sweden.
Comment: All respondents are included in the percent calculations.
Principal investigator: Sören Holmberg, phone +4631 7731227, e-mail: soren.holmberg@pol.gu.se.
All data processed by Rudolf Antoni.
40 83
28 73
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Women Men
Percent in favor of abolishing nuclear power in different age groups
Data: SOM-Institute, Göteborg University; Annual nationwide surveys in Sweden.
Comment: All respondents are included in the percent calculations.
Principal investigator: Sören Holmberg, phone +4631 7731227, e-mail: soren.holmberg@pol.gu.se.
All data processed by Rudolf Antoni.
37 80
36 78
34 75
30 79
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
15-29 30-49 50-64 65-85
Percent in favor of abolishing nuclear power in different educational groups
Data: SOM-Institute, Göteborg University; Annual nationwide surveys in Sweden.
Comment: All respondents are included in the percent calculations.
Principal investigator: Sören Holmberg, phone +4631 7731227, e-mail: soren.holmberg@pol.gu.se.
All data processed by Rudolf Antoni.
41 77
33 75
33 79
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
University Middle Basic
Percent in favor of abolishing nuclear power
among Swedes with different ideological self-placements
Data: SOM-Institute, Göteborg University; Annual nationwide surveys in Sweden.
Comment: All respondents are included in the percent calculations.
Principal investigator: Sören Holmberg, phone +4631 7731227, e-mail: soren.holmberg@pol.gu.se.
All data processed by Rudolf Antoni.
45 80
36 81
23 69
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Left Middle Right
Percent in favor of abolishing nuclear power among Swedes with different party sympathies
Data: SOM-Institute, Göteborg University; Annual nationwide surveys in Sweden.
Comment: All respondents are included in the percent calculations.
Principal investigator: Sören Holmberg, phone +4631 7731227, e-mail: soren.holmberg@pol.gu.se.
All data processed by Rudolf Antoni.
73 84
52 89
45 84
36 72
35 80
29 79
22 64
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Green Center Left
Christian Dem.
Social Democrats Liberal
Conservative
Data: SOM-Institute, Göteborg University; Annual nationwide surveys in Sweden.
Comment: All respondents are included in the percent calculations.
Principal investigator: Sören Holmberg, phone +4631 7731227, e-mail: soren.holmberg@pol.gu.se.
All data processed by Rudolf Antoni.
78 72
54 47
33
18 77
74
41 44
30
9
2 32
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Solar Wind
Bio Hydro
Nuclear
Coal Gas
Oil
Percent Swedes who think Sweden - more than today -
should go in for the below-mentioned energy sources
Data: SOM-Institute, Göteborg University; Annual nationwide surveys in Sweden.
Question: “To what extent do you trust information about energy and nuclear power provided by the following groups?” Four response alternatives: “very much; fairly much; fairly little; very little”. The results show percent people answering very or fairly much. The percentage base is defined as persons who answered the question.
Principal investigator: Sören Holmberg, phone +4631 7731227, e-mail: soren.holmberg@pol.gu.se.
All data processed by Rudolf Antoni.
57 60
36 52 48
38
16
31
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
1986 1897 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Environmental organisations
Nuclear power industry
The government
Journalists
Swedish Trust in information about energy and nuclear power
provided by different groups
30. Greece 15. Turkish Cyprus
29. Malta 14. Poland
28. Cyprus 13. Belgium
27. Spain 12. Italy
26. Denmark 11. Netherlands
25. Austria 10. Turkey
24. Croatia 9. Romania
23. Portugal 8. Czech Republic
22. Slovenia 7. Germany
21. Ireland 6. United Kingdom
20. Luxembourg 5. Slovakia
19. Latvia 4. Lithuania
18. Estonia 3. Bulgaria
17. France 2. Finland
16. Hungary 1. Sweden
EU25
Nuclear Energy Nuclear Energy
European Attitudes Towards the Future of Three Energy Sources
Question: ”To reduce our dependency on imported energy resources, Governments have to choose from a list of alternatives, sometimes costly solutions. Which of the following should the (NATIONALITY) Government mainly focus on for the years to come? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)
Comment: The figures are percentages. Source: Special Eurobarometer: Attitudes towards Energy 2006; fieldwork october-november 2005.
The interview question included two more response alternatives besides nuclear, solar and wind – Promote advanced research for new energy technologies (hydrogen, clear coal, etc.) and Regulate in order to reduce our dependence of oil. In EU25 the research alternative was
supported by 41 percent and the reduce oil alternative by 23 percent. The comparable results for Sweden was 55 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
12 32 27 24 21 19 18 17 17 15 15 14 13 11 10 10
9 8 8 8 7 7 5 5 5 5 4 4 2 2 2
30. Turkey 15. Luxembourg
29. Turkish Cyprus 14. Hungary
28. Italy 13. France
27. Bulgaria 12. Slovenia
26. Romania 11. Latvia
25. Lithuania 10. United Kingdom
24. Cyprus 9. Croatia
23. Slovakia 8. Finland
22. Czech Republic 7. Sweden
21. Germany 6. Netherlands
20. Spain 5. Greece
19. Poland 4. Belgium
18. Malta 3. Ireland
17. Portugal 2. Estonia
16. Austria 1. Denmark
EU25
Wind Power Wind Power
European Attitudes Towards the Future of Three Energy Sources
Question: ”To reduce our dependency on imported energy resources, Governments have to choose from a list of alternatives, sometimes costly solutions. Which of the following should the (NATIONALITY) Government mainly focus on for the years to come? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)
Comment: The figures are percentages. Source: Special Eurobarometer: Attitudes towards Energy 2006; fieldwork october-november 2005. The interview question included two more response alternatives besides nuclear, solar and wind – Promote advanced research for new energy technologies (hydrogen, clear coal, etc.) and Regulate in order to reduce our dependence of oil. In EU25 the research alternative was supported by 41 percent and the reduce oil alternative by 23 percent. The comparable results for Sweden was 55 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
31 59 54 52 49 44 42 41 41 40 39 39 39 38 37 36
35 34 32 30 28 26 25 23 22 22 18 16 15 11 9
30. Lithuania 15. Slovakia
29. Latvia 14. Denmark
28. Turkey 13. Netherlands
27. Romania 12. Spain
26. Sweden 11. Turkish Cyprus
25. Ireland 10. Belgium
24. Estonia 9. Austria
23. Poland 8. Germany
22. Portugal 7. Malta
21. Bulgaria 6. Slovenia
20. Finland 5. Croatia
19. Czech Republic 4. Luxembourg
18. Italy 3. France
17. United Kingdom 2. Greece
16. Hungary 1. Cyprus
EU25
Solar Power Solar Power
European Attitudes Towards the Future of Three Energy Sources
Question: ”To reduce our dependency on imported energy resources, Governments have to choose from a list of alternatives, sometimes costly solutions. Which of the following should the (NATIONALITY) Government mainly focus on for the years to come? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)
Comment: The figures are percentages. Source: Special Eurobarometer: Attitudes towards Energy 2006; fieldwork october-november 2005.
The interview question included two more response alternatives besides nuclear, solar and wind – Promote advanced research for new energy technologies (hydrogen, clear coal, etc.) and Regulate in order to reduce our dependence of oil. In EU25 the research alternative was supported by 41 percent and the reduce oil alternative by 23 percent. The comparable results for Sweden was 55 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
48 76 70 63 62 60 60 58 55 54 51 50 50 47 45 44
43 43 41 41 38 38 37 37 35 32 31 29 27 25 16
