EUBCE 2024 - Pol CAMPS - Socio-Demographic and Psychological Factors Behind Citizen Acceptance of Biogas in Livestock Farming

Socio-Demographic and Psychological Factors Behind Citizen Acceptance of Biogas in Livestock Farming

Short Introductive summary

We investigate which factors affect social acceptance of biogas in livestock farming. We conducted a novel survey of 3,000 EU citizens and developed a structured questionnaire based on relevant literature. We examine how sociodemographic and psychological factors can influence personal attitudes and ultimately public acceptance, and show that moral values and psychological factors exhibit a stronger influence on the views of EU citizens compared to socio-demographic factors. For instance, trust in farmers and authorities reflect more positive attitudes towards biogas made from manure, as well as less concerns about potential negative health or safety impacts from biogas. Similarly, caring more about the environment is also associated with a higher acceptance of biogas production from manure and with positive beliefs that it can help lower emissions and pollution. In contrast, the propensity to feel disgust in situations involving animals is associated with the perception that biogas from manure is a contaminated source of energy, and in turn with lower citizen acceptance and a higher likelihood to exhibit misperceptions about its impact on health and the environment.

P. Camps-Arago, White Research, Brussels, BELGIUM
S. Michopoulou, White Research, Thessaloniki, GREECE
A. Stamos, Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen, DENMARK
G. Zendron, White Research, Brussels, BELGIUM
E. Tiaka, White Research, Thessaloniki, GREECE