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

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  • Bohdanowicz, Zbigniew
  • Łopaciuk-Gonczaryk, Beata
  • Kowalski, Jarosław

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Bohdanowicz, Zbigniew & Łopaciuk-Gonczaryk, Beata & Kowalski, Jarosław, 2025. "Europe becomes pro-nuclear? Drivers of public support for nuclear energy in six EU countries after the energy crisis of 2022," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:200:y:2025:i:c:s0301421525000357
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114528
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bohdanowicz, Zbigniew & Łopaciuk-Gonczaryk, Beata & Gajda, Paweł & Rajewski, Adam, 2023. "Support for nuclear power and proenvironmental attitudes: The cases of Germany and Poland," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    2. Kitschelt, Herbert P., 1986. "Political Opportunity Structures and Political Protest: Anti-Nuclear Movements in Four Democracies," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(1), pages 57-85, January.
    3. Arndt, Christoph, 2023. "Climate change vs energy security? The conditional support for energy sources among Western Europeans," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    4. Corner, Adam & Venables, Dan & Spence, Alexa & Poortinga, Wouter & Demski, Christina & Pidgeon, Nick, 2011. "Nuclear power, climate change and energy security: Exploring British public attitudes," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(9), pages 4823-4833, September.
    5. Agnieszka Konopelko & Luiza Kostecka-Tomaszewska & Katarzyna Czerewacz-Filipowicz, 2023. "Rethinking EU Countries’ Energy Security Policy Resulting from the Ongoing Energy Crisis: Polish and German Standpoints," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-22, July.
    6. George Halkos & Argyro Zisiadou, 2023. "Energy Crisis Risk Mitigation through Nuclear Power and RES as Alternative Solutions towards Self-Sufficiency," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-29, January.
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