Europe becomes pro-nuclear? Drivers of public support for nuclear energy in six EU countries after the energy crisis of 2022

Abstract

This article examines public support for nuclear energy in six European Union member states (France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Germany, and Poland) after the energy crisis of 2022. Based on a survey of 4800 respondents, our results indicate a marked increase in support for nuclear energy compared to previous years. Support is higher among men, people who consider themselves as right-wing (except in Poland), and people who have greater knowledge of nuclear energy.

Surprisingly, the negative relationship between ecological values and support for nuclear energy, observed in earlier studies, is no longer universal. In three of the six countries, ecological values were not a significant factor; in two countries, they were associated with lower support; in one country (Poland), the relationship was the opposite.

The belief that nuclear power plants contribute to climate change was found to reduce support for nuclear energy development significantly across all six countries. Our study highlights the importance of knowledge of nuclear energy and its roles in climate change mitigation and in shaping public attitudes. Our findings suggest a gradual change in perceptions of nuclear energy in the European Union, with potential implications for the energy transition and climate policy goals.