To be socially robust, renewable energy policies aiming at achieving a low-carbon society require public support. Woody biomass is an important renewable energy source. It accounts for a large share of the renewable energy consumption in several EU countries. However, its sustainability credentials are contested. Little is known as yet about how the public perceives woody biomass. This paper aims to examine the public’s intention to vote for continued use of woody biomass, and to find out whether this voting intention can be explained using the cognitive hierarchy model. This model posits that values, attitudes and beliefs predict higher order cognitions like intention. We extend the model by including an additional variable (perceived benefit). Although the model is widely used in connection with natural resource management issues, it has not yet been applied to the case of increasingly contested energy sources like woody biomass. We use Denmark as a case study given that woody biomass makes up the largest share of the renewable energy mix in the country. Results of a nationwide questionnaire-based survey of the general public show that a large proportion of Danes are undecided about their attitudes towards, and their intention to vote for, woody biomass. Structural equation modeling results show that belief in the mitigation potential of woody biomass has a significant positive effect on both attitudes and voting intention. Altruistic and egoistic values have a significant positive effect on attitudes, which in turn have a significant positive influence on voting intention. We also confirm the mediating role of attitudes. Understanding public opinion-making processes can help to promote environmental decision-making that takes due account of public perceptions of the ways in which energy transitions come about. The cognitive hierarchy model is an apt framework with which to predict voting intention in the context of contested energy sources.

中文翻译：

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丹麦公众投票支持继续使用木质生物质作为能源的意愿：认知层次视角

为了实现社会的稳健，旨在实现低碳社会的可再生能源政策需要公众的支持。木质生物质是重要的可再生能源。它在几个欧盟国家的可再生能源消耗中占据很大份额。然而，其可持续性资质受到争议。目前，公众如何看待木质生物质还知之甚少。本文旨在检验公众投票支持继续使用木质生物质的意愿，并找出这种投票意愿是否可以用认知层次模型来解释。该模型假设价值观、态度和信念可以预测更高阶的认知，例如意图。我们通过添加一个附加变量（感知收益）来扩展模型。尽管该模型广泛应用于自然资源管理问题，但尚未应用于木质生物质等竞争日益激烈的能源的情况。我们以丹麦为案例研究，因为木质生物质在该国可再生能源结构中占据最大份额。对公众进行的一项全国性问卷调查结果显示，很大一部分丹麦人对木质生物质的态度和投票意向尚未确定。结构方程模型结果表明，对木质生物质缓解潜力的信念对态度和投票意愿都有显着的积极影响。利他和利己价值观对态度有显着的正向影响，进而对投票意愿有显着的正向影响。我们还证实了态度的中介作用。了解公众舆论形成过程有助于促进环境决策，充分考虑公众对能源转型方式的看法。认知层次模型是一个合适的框架，可以用来预测有争议的能源背景下的投票意图。