Building trust in the energy transition: an approach based on behavioral science

Climate change necessitates an urgent transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy, yet widespread public support for a shift in energy systems does not guarantee local acceptance of renewable energy developments and projects. This article explores the complexities inherent in community opposition to local renewable energy developments and shares strategies to enhance community understanding and involvement in decision-making. We adopt a behavioral science approach that integrates both individual and group-level insights to complement and build on frameworks in political economy, facilitation, and community organizing to empower communities to make informed, self-determined choices through more inclusive, participatory processes. The insights presented in this article derive from and distill the authors’ experiences and observations as applied behavioral scientists, practitioners, and researchers working at the intersection of energy transition and community acceptance. We first outline five key barriers that underlie community opposition and then propose a four-step solution to build capacity within communities to make effective decisions around renewable energy developments. We discuss actions that policymakers and practitioners can take to promote effective engagement with communities – and, in particular, economic and resource disadvantaged communities – to ensure that the benefits of renewable energy are equitably shared, and that no community is left behind in the transition to a sustainable energy future.