Public perceptions of energy security risks and energy transition support in France and Germany

The recent European energy crisis following the Russia-Ukraine war of 2022 has highlighted energy security risks and influenced public debates over the course of the sustainable energy transition. We investigate how public concerns over four dimensions of energy security risks (reliability of supply, import dependency,
affordability, and environmental impact) are related to support for the energy transition in Germany and France. Our survey data (n = 2,010 participants) show that citizens in both countries are most concerned about the affordability of energy. However, multiple regression analysis shows that concerns about the envi-
ronmental impact of the energy system are most consistently related to general support as well as specific supply-side energy technologies and demand-side energy policies. Moreover, climate change concerns mitigate the adverse effects of affordability concerns, and perceptions of the energy crisis as an opportunity can
partially explain why perceived energy security risks can translate into energy transition support.