Reinforced by the energy crisis: Nuclear revival and public opinion in the Czech Republic

As a low-carbon baseload source, nuclear energy is experiencing a revival in policy toward climate-neutrality targets, which has been accompanied by changes in public opinion following the 2021–2023 energy crisis. This article compares data from three representative public opinion surveys (2021, 2022, and 2023) to understand the substantial rise in acceptance of nuclear energy in the Czech Republic. Our hypothesis-driven research employs multiple ordinary least squares regressions and constructs two types of models (baseline and extended) to identify drivers of acceptance, including variables on sociodemographic characteristics, country-specific situational attitudes, and attitudes toward climate change, energy security, and environmental issues. We found that while the rise in acceptance partially diminished between 2022 and 2023, the recurrent higher level of acceptance echoes enduring changes in public attitudes. Statistically, men and more educated individuals show substantial support for nuclear energy, but age was not significant. Overall, higher acceptance was positively associated with energy security and negatively with climate change concerns, yet the 2023 model suggests a possible drift toward a more favorable attitude toward nuclear energy among the climate-concerned. Similarly, the perception of economic downturn after the crisis led to reluctant acceptance of nuclear in 2023. Finally, predictors of trust indicate that it is difficult for the government to meet the expectations of nuclear energy supporters, and the link between nuclear energy and populism is weaker than in other countries. Our results contribute to understanding public attitudes toward nuclear energy as part of energy transitions in the post-crisis period.