Ugler I Mosen: Demand-side Climate Initiatives in a Petro-State

Abstract

This article seeks to establish a connection between the perception of demand-side initiatives among the Norwegian construction population and Norway's historically distinct climate and fossil fuel institutions. Energy transition literature often treats demand-side and supply-side changes independently, overlooking their potential interactions, despite evidence suggesting that their effectiveness is heightened when they complement each other (Prest). Similarly, prevailing research on attitudes toward fossil fuels, particularly that which garners widespread readership, tends to rely heavily on socio-demographic analysis rather than examining the role of the state and its institutions. To advance state theory within the context of the energy transition, this paper concentrates on individuals' self-reported exposure to demand-side climate initiatives within the burgeoning construction industry in Stavanger and Oslo, Norway. These cities represent opposing poles of growth in a nation that leads in demand-side climate action while maintaining a steadfast commitment to its primary supply-side industry: oil and gas.