Susana Batel

Governments, namely in the global North, are fostering the deployment of large-scale low carbon and associated energy infrastructures (EIs), such as power lines, to mitigate climate change. However, when infrastructures are to be deployed, opposition is often found. Environmental justice—involving issues of distributive and procedural justice and recognition—and associated inter-group relations, has been identified as a key aspect for local opposition. However, research has rarely examined local perceptions of environmental justice and associated practices, such as energy colonialism, within a global perspective. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, we examine if and how different-level intergroup relations and collective narratives shape people's social-psychological and geographical imaginaries and responses to EIs. Focus groups were conducted with community members affected by proposals to construct high-voltage power lines in the UK. Analyses suggest that narratives around England's colonial history—within Britain and beyond Britain—shape responses to EIs. [see https://antipodefoundation.org/2016/12/05/video-abstracts-energy-politics/]

No Norte global, vários governos estão a promover a construção de tecnologias de baixo carbono e outras infra-estruturas energéticas de larga escala associadas (IE), como linhas elétricas, para mitigar as alterações climáticas. Contudo, oposição à sua construção é frequente. A (in)justiça ambiental e relações intergrupais associadas, têm vindo a ser identificadas como explicativas dessa oposição. Contudo, raramente são analisadas as representações locais de justiça ambiental e práticas relacionadas, como de colonialismo energético, dentro de uma perspetiva global. Adoptando uma abordagem interdisciplinar, examinamos neste artigo se e como relações intergrupais a diferentes níveis—local ao global - e narrativas coletivas associadas, moldam os imaginários geográficos e sócio-psicológicos em relação às IE. Conduzimos grupos focais com membros de comunidades no Reino Unido a serem afetadas pela construção de linhas elétricas. As análises sugerem que narrativas da história colonial Inglesa—dentro e fora do Reino Unido—influenciam as respostas às IE [ver https://antipodefoundation.org/2016/12/05/video-abstracts-energy-politics/].

Large-scale renewable energy and associated technologies (RET), such as high voltage power lines
(HVPL), often meet opposition from the local communities living nearby. Research has suggested that one
of the main aspects that might contribute to this is the fact that RET are represented as industrial and
urban, and thus, as having a different essence from rural landscapes, where they are usually deployed
and which are represented as natural and unspoilt. However, this ‘hypothesis’ of landscape essentialisation
shaping people's responses to RET has not been explicitly examined. By drawing upon research
from Social Psychology and Human Geography on essentialisation, we will examine if and how landscape
(de-)essentialisation plays a role in people's responses to RET. Namely, by examining it as a rhetorical
construction that can be strategically used to negotiate and legitimize given relations with place and
associated responses to RET.
Focus groups were conducted in the UK and Norway with members of local communities to be affected
by the construction of HVPLs that will connect to new low carbon energy technologies. Analyses show
that participants present British and Norwegian rural landscapes in general and HVPL as having two
different essences, which justifies opposition to those infrastructures. However, analyses also show that
essentialisation of the countryside is strategically used. Namely, participants also present the countryside
in the place where they live as having more of the essence of the British or Norwegian countryside than
other areas of the UK and Norway. In turn, this allows them to legitimize claims that whereas HVPL are
‘out of place’ in the countryside in general, they are more so in the place where they live.
The implications of these results for the definition of acceptable locations for RET and for research on
peopleeplace relations and responses to place change, are discussed.

A national-local ‘gap’ is often used as the starting point for analyses of public responses to large scale energy infrastructures. We critique three assumptions found in that literature: the public's positive attitudes, without further examining other type of perceptions at a national level; that local perceptions are best examined through a siting rather than place-based approach; that a gap exists between national and local responses, despite a non-correspondence in how these are examined. Survey research conducted at national and local levels about electricity transmission lines in the UK confirm these criticisms. Results do not support a gap between national and local levels; instead, both differences and similarities were found. Results show the value of adopting a place-based approach and the role of surveys to inform policy making are discussed.

ABSTRACT In many countries, electricity transmission networks are being upgraded and developed arising from policies aiming to decarbonise energy systems. However, new power lines are often controversial, due to their perceived negative impacts on rural landscapes. Despite the fact that visual impacts are an important element of public objections, to date, little research has analysed public preferences for alternative pylon designs, as well as investigating the social and psychological factors that might explain such preferences. This paper sought to address this gap, informed by research on public acceptance of renewable energy technologies, using a survey conducted with a representative sample of UK adults (n = 1519). The findings indicate that the ‘T-pylon’ design, winner of a recent competition, was most strongly preferred and the one most perceived to fit with a rural landscape, by comparison to the conventional ‘A frame’ design and a ‘Totem’ design shortlisted in the competition. Linear regression analyses indicated three factors that explained perceived fit, regardless of the designs: lower levels of educational attainment, positive general attitudes towards transmission lines and higher levels of trust in National Grid were associated with positive perceptions of fit of the pylons in a rural landscape. Finally, findings concerning public support for diverse mitigation measures indicated that the use of alternative designs was less supported than burying new powerlines underground and routing pylons away from homes and schools. The implications of these results for more sustainable grid networks are discussed.

... da Agenda 21 e do Tratado de Aalborg, que insistem na importância, para a sustentabilidade do desenvolvimento urbano, da participação ... articulada com a dimensão da “sociedade argumentativa” acres-centada por Billig (Billig, Condor, Edwards, Gane, Middleton & Radley ...

ABSTRACT This study aims to improve the understanding of the sociopsychological and technological aspects that influence the use of smart meters—innovative electricity meters that provide real-time data on consumption and are instrumental in increasing energy efficiency. Few studies have examined the sociopsychological factors that influence their use. We argue that the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and other specific factors from the social psychology literature, such as perceived procedural justice and risk perception, can help understand what determines the use of smart meters. To empirically examine that, first a quantitative survey was conducted with 515 households with smart meters installed. Results indicate that smart meter use is influenced by subjective norms, perceived utility, health-related risk perception, procedural justice, and time of usage. In a second study, internet blogs discussing smart meters were analyzed. This study corroborated some of the results of the first study and suggested additional factors—such as perceived distributive injustice and loss of control and privacy-related risk perception—that may influence the use of smart meters.

... Maria Luísa Lima 2. Sibila Marques 3. Susana Batel 4. Sandra Carvalho 5. ... Referências. Bernardes, S. (2003). O optimismo comparativo face à Saúde em Crianças e Adolescentes: diferenças etárias na sua expressão e relação com as crenças associadas ao controlo. ...