Energy citizenship is about the active participation of citizens in energy systems in a particular geographical area. Active participation can both be socially and politically, either as individuals (e.g., through energy efficiency measures in households) or in larger groups (e.g., through engagement with energy policy in climate activist groups or energy communities). The effects of energy citizenship can be positive (e.g supporting the clean energy transition, investing in energy-efficient appliances or participating in a local energy initiative), negative (e.g. public resistance to new forms of renewable energy) or neutral.
In the context of GRETA, we aim to improve our understanding of the drivers, barriers and enablers of energy citizenship emergence. Findings will be utilized to inform and encourage policymakers to advocate energy citizenship supporting local and global decarbonization goals.