European adolescents awareness from energy supply to life perspectives

Aim of the article is proposing some specific issues about energy supply and present and future life situations in order to observe the opinions and attitudes of the younger generation of Europe. The core of the contribution is a treatment of the question from a sociological perspective and using an extract of data from the recent research called Pact – Pathways for Carbon Transitions (project number 225503) funded by the 7th Framework Programme –, that is a survey completely dedicated to adolescents aged 14-18. In order to understand the approach to energy transition from a society completely based on fossil energy, and often taken for granted, to one that takes into account alternatives of resources, three aspects will be considered. First, the perception the adolescents have about the ending of the oil as the main energy resource and its potential substitutions. Second, the concrete involvement of fossil fuels and environmental issues in the participants’ present and future daily lives. Third, adolescents general approach in terms of risks and values in order to enter their way of thinking and to have a better understanding of the answers obtained to energy and environmental questions from a sociological point of view.