The 'value-action gap' in public attitudes towards sustainable energy: The case of hydrogen energy

Sociological Review

Volumn 57, Issue SUPPL. 2, 2009, Pages 159-180

  Flynn, Rob ^a   Bellaby, Paul ^a   Ricci, Miriam ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD   (United Kingdom)

^b UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 77951718970     PISSN: 00380261     EISSN: 1467954X     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-954X.2010.01891.x     Document Type: Article

References (56)

1. Anable J, Lane B, Kelay T. An evidence base review of public attitudes to climate change and transport behaviour 2006, http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/climatechange/areviewofpublicattitudestocl5730, Final Report to Department of Transport, London, Contract PPRO 004/006/006
2. Barr S, Gilg A. Sustainable lifestyles: framing environmental action in and around the home. Geoforum 2006, 37:906-920.
3. Bell D, Gray T, Haggett C. The " social gap" in wind farm siting decisions. Environmental Politics 2005, 14(4):460-477.
4. Bellaby P, Upham P. Public Engagement with Hydrogen Infrastructures in Transport. 2007, http://www.iscpr.salford.ac.uk, report for the Department for Transport Horizons Research programme, contract number PPRO 4/54/2, December 2007. Available from
5. Renewable Energy Awareness and Attitudes Research - management summary. 2007, http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file41239.pdf, BERR, URN 07/706, September, from: Accessed 25 February 2008
6. Public perception. 2008, http://www/berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/planning/public-perception, BERR, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, summary report, from: Accessed 23 February 2008
7. Blake J. Overcoming the 'value-action gap' in environmental policy. Local Environment 1999, 4(3):257-278.
8. Burningham K, O'Brien M. Global environmental values and local contexts of action. Sociology 1994, 28(4):913-932.
9. Butt S, Shaw A. Pay more, fly less? Changing attitudes to air travel. British Social Attitudes: the 25th 2009, Park A, Curtice JThomson KPhillips MClery E. in, eds, Report, London, Sage
10. Christie I, Jarvis L. How green are our values? British Social Attitudes: the 18th 2002, Park A, Curtice JThomson KJarvis LBromley C. in, eds, Report, London, Sage
11. Darnton A. The Impact of Sustainable Development on Public Behaviour: report 1 of desk research commissioned by COI on behalf of DEFRA. 2004, http://www.sustainable_development.gov.uk/publications/pdf/desk-research1.pdf, May, from: Accessed 13 Feb 2008
12. 2007 Survey of Public Attitudes and Behaviours toward the Environment. 2007, http://defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/pubatt/download/pubattsum07.pdf, DEFRA, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, August 2007, from:: Accessed 25 Feb 2008
13. A Framework for pro-Environmental behaviours: Report, January 2008. 2008, http://www.defra.gov.uk/evidence/social/behaviour/pdf/behaviours-jan08-report.pdf, DEFRA, from: Accessed 17 March 2009
14. Dickens P. Society and Nature: towards a Green social theory 1992, Hemel Hempstead, Harvester-Wheatsheaf
15. Meeting the Energy Challenge: a White Paper on Energy. 2007, DTI, Department of Trade and Industry, May 2007, CM 7124, London
16. Ekins P, Hughes N. The prospects for a Hydrogen Economy. 2007, http://www.psi.org.uk/ukshec/publications.htm, UKSHEC Social Science Working Paper, June, Policy Studies Institute, London;
17. Strategic Research Agenda. 2005, http://www.HFPeurope.org/uploads/677/686/HFP_SRA004_SRA-report-final_22JUL2005.pdf, European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform, July, Report from: Accessed Jan 2006
18. Flynn R. Risk and the public acceptance of new technologies. Risk and the Public Acceptance of New Technologies 2007, Flynn RBellaby P. in, eds, Basingstoke, Palgrave-Macmillan
19. Flynn R, Bellaby P, Ricci M. Risk perception of an emergent technology: the case of hydrogen energy: Forum for Qualitative Social Research. 2006, http://www.qualitative-research.net/fqs-texte/1-06-1-19-e.htm, 7, 1, art 19, at:
20. Flynn R, Bellaby P, Ricci M. Environmental citizenship and public attitudes to hydrogen energy technologies. Environmental Politics 2008, 17(5):766-783.
21. Grove-White R, Macnaghten P, Wynne B. Wising Up: the public and new technologies. 2000, Research Report by the Centre for the study of Environmental Change, Lancaster University
22. Hobson K. Thinking habits into action: the role of knowledge and process in questioning household consumption practices. Local Environment 2003, 8(1):95-112.
23. Hobson K. Sustainable lifestyles: rethinking barriers and behaviour change. Exploring Sustainable Consumption: environmental policy and the social sciences 2001, Cohen MMurphy J. in, eds, Oxford, Elsevier/Pergamon
24. The European Hydrogen Roadmap: roadmap and action plan: executive summary. 2008, http://hyways.de/docs/Brochures_and_Flyers/HyWays_executive_summary_FINAL_22Feb2008.pdf, Hyways, [Accessed 3 March 2008
25. Irwin A. Sociology and the Environment 2001, Cambridge, Polity
26. Irwin A. Public dialogue and the scientific citizen. Risk and the Public Acceptance of New Technologies 2007, Flynn RBellaby P. in, eds, Basingstoke, Palgrave-Macmillan
27. Irwin A, Michael M. Science, Social Theory and Public Knowledge 2003, Maidenhead, Open University Press
28. Irwin A, Wynne B. Introduction. Misunderstanding Science? 1996, Irwin A, Wynne B. in, eds, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press
29. Jackson T. Motivating Sustainable Consumption: a review of evidence on consumer behaviour and behavioural change. 2004, http://www.portal.surrey.ac.uk/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/ENG/STAFF/STAFFAC/JACKSON/PUBLICATIONS, A report to the Sustainable Development Research Network and ESRC, University of Surrey, from: Accessed 17 Nov 2006
30. Kollmuss A, Agyeman J. Mind the gap. Environmental Education Research 2002, 8(3):239-260.
31. Macnaghten P, Urry J. Contested Natures 1998, London, Sage
32. Macnaghten P. Embodying the environment in everyday life practices. The Sociological Review 2003, 51(1):63-84.
33. McDowall W, Eames M. Forecasts, scenarios, backcasts and roadmaps to the hydrogen economy. Energy Policy 2006, 34:1236-1250.
34. Mohr A. Against the stream: moving public engagement on nanotechnologies upstream. Risk and the Public Acceptance of New Technologies 2007, Flynn RRBellaby P. in, eds, Basingstoke, Palgrave-Macmillan
35. Newby H. One world, two cultures: sociology and the environment: Network. 1991, British Sociological Association), 50, May
36. O'Garra T, Pearson P, Mourato S. Public acceptability of hydrogen fuel cell transport and associated refuelling infrastructures. Risk and the Public Acceptance of New Technologies 2007, Flynn R, Bellaby P, in, eds, Basingstoke, Palgrave-Macmillan
37. Park A, Curtice J, Thomson K, Jarvis L, Bromley C. British Social Attitudes: the 18th Report 2002, eds, London, Sage
38. Park A, Curtice J, Thomson K, Phillips M, Johnson M, Clery E. British Social Attitudes: the 24th Report 2008, eds, London, Sage
39. Poortinga W, Steg L, Vlek C. Values, environmental concern and environmental behaviour. Environment and Behaviour 2004, 36(1):70-93.
40. Ricci M, Flynn R, Bellaby P. Public Attitudes towards hydrogen energy: preliminary analysis of focus groups in London, Teesside and Wales. 2006, http://www.psi.org.uk/ukshec, Report for UK Sustainable Hydrogen Consortium, June 2006, ISCPR, University of Salford. Available from:
41. Ricci M, Newsholme G, Bellaby P, Flynn R. The transition to hydrogen-based energy: combining technology and risk assessments and lay perspectives. International Journal of Energy Sector Management 2007a, 1(1):43-50.
42. Ricci M, Bellaby P, Flynn R. Stakeholders' and publics' perceptions of hydrogen energy technologies. Risk and the Public Acceptance of New Technologies 2007b, Flynn R, Bellaby P, in, eds, Basingstoke: Palgrave-Macmillan
43. Ricci M, Bellaby P, Flynn R. What do we know about public perceptions and acceptance of hydrogen? A critical review and new case study evidence. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2008, 33:5868-5880.
44. Rifkin J. The Hydrogen Economy 2002, New York, Tarcher & Putnam
45. Rowe G, Frewer L. Evaluating public engagement exercises: a research agenda. Science, Technology and Human Values 2004, 29(4):512-556.
46. Stern N. The Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change 2007, London, Cabinet Office & HM Treasury
47. Stern P C. Towards a coherent theory of environmentally significant behaviour. Journal of Social Issues 2000, 56(3):407-424.
48. Stirling A. Opening-up or closing down? Analysis, participation and power in the social appraisal of technology. Science and Citizens 2005, Leach MScoones IWynne B. in, eds, London, Zed Books
49. Stradling S, Anable J, anderson T, Cronberg A. Car use and climate change: do we practise what we preach? British Social Attitudes: the 24th Report 2008, Park A, in, eds, London, Sage
50. I will if you will: towards sustainable consumption. 2006, http://www.sd-commssion.org.uk/publications.php?id=367, Sustainable Development Commission, Report by the Sustainable Development Round Table, 1 May 2006, from: Accessed 24 Aug 2006
51. Building a low carbon economy: the UK's contribution to tackling climate change. 2008, UK Committee on Climate Change, First Report, December 2008, London: The Stationary Office
52. The Hydrogen Economy: a non-technical review 2006, United Nations, United Nations Environment Programme, New York, UN
53. Urry J. Climate change, travel and complex futures. British Journal of Sociology 2008, 59(2):261-279.
54. Wilsdon J, Willis R. See-through Science: why public engagement needs to move upstream 2004, London, Demos
55. Wynne B. Risk as a globalizing " democratic" discourse? Framing subjects and citizens. Science and Citizens 2005, Leach MScoones IWynne B. in, eds, London, Zed Books
56. Yearley S. Cultures of Environmentalism 2005, London, Palgrave-Macmillan