Young People’s Perceptions of Energy Technologies: Risks, Safety, and Impacts

Garnering a clearer understanding of young people’s perceptions of energy technologies is paramount if we are to continue to make progress on climate change. In this paper, we examine how young people in Canada, a country whose economy is closely tied to the price of oil due to its vast oil reserves, perceive renewable and non-renewable energy technologies. Through online focus groups with youth aged 18-25 in both rural and urban settings, we explore young people’s perceptions of the risks various energy technologies pose, what they consider to be safe and clean energy technologies, and the impacts these technologies are having locally and globally. Our findings suggest that in terms of perceived risks, fossil fuel-related energies were viewed as some of the riskiest technologies but young people’s understandings were complex as they were also aware of some benefits of fossil fuel technologies. In addition, they were aware of the benefits and opportunities as well as the risks and safety issues associated with other technologies as well (e.g., nuclear, solar). Young people were optimistic that a move away from fossil fuels would create jobs and improve the environment and overall economy. However, real progress on climate change was only seen as coming through global cooperation.