Environmental consciousness and sustainable energy policies: Italian parliamentary debates in the years 2009-2012

This contribution examines levels and components of consciousness (knowledge, experiences, awareness, concerns, values) invoked by decision makers and key informants in their speeches on energy sustainability at the Italian parliament in the years 2009-2012. A socioconstructivist approach, indeed, suggests that meaning-making and negotiation processes involved in the creation of laws affect the cultural shift required for successful energy transitions. Discussions among decision makers (n = 90) and consultation with key informants (n = 93) were submitted to content analysis. Results show that levels of consciousness are low, and their increase is due to external events, but they rapidly return to the baseline when the events in question leave the agenda. Cognitive components largely prevail over affects and values. Concerns are associated with all the energy sources. The observed unbalance among the components of consciousness, although being a pragmatic rhetorical choice, opens several questions about the Italian approach to energy sustainability.