The research on people–place relations makes an important contribution to the understanding of the public responses to renewable energy technologies (RETs). Social media not only provides easy access to the sentiments and attitudes of online users towards RETs, but social media content can also shape the discourse, both on- and offline, about RETs. Hence, social media content analysis provides valuable insights into the public responses to RETs. However, as of now, only a small number of studies have investigated people–place relations in the context of the energy transition via online content. To address this lack of knowledge, this study aims to increase the understanding of people–place relations by investigating the relationship between the place scales mentioined in Instagram posts (categorized from local to planet) and the sentiments that are expressed in said posts, depending on different energy infrastructures (solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, powerlines, and renewable energy in general). Our analysis of 1500 Instagram posts shows that the place scales that are mentioned in the Instagram posts are related to some differences in the post emotionality, and that these effects differ across the different hashtags that are related to RETs. By using a sociocognitive approach, this study is the first to investigate Instagram posts in the context of the energy transition and people–place relationships.

Green hydrogen has the potential to contribute to the decarbonization of the fossil fuel industry, and its development is expected to increase in the coming years. The social dynamics among the various actors in the green hydrogen sector are studied to understand their public perception. Using the technological innovation system research approach for the stakeholder analysis and the qualitative thematic analysis method for the interviews with experts, this study presents an overview of the actors in the green hydrogen sector and their relations in Luxembourg. As a central European country with strategic political and geographic relevance, Luxembourg offers a timely case for analyzing public perception before the large-scale implementation of green hydrogen. Observing this early stage allows for future comparative insights as the national hydrogen strategy progresses. Results show high expectations for green hydrogen in mobility and industry, but concerns persist over infrastructure costs, safety, and public awareness. Regional stakeholders demonstrate a strong willingness to collaborate, recognizing that local public acceptance still requires effort, particularly in areas such as clear and inclusive communication, sharing knowledge, and fostering trust. These findings provide practical insights for stakeholder engagement strategies and theoretical contributions to the study of social dynamics in sustainability transitions.

This study examines the psychosocial factors predicting municipal solid waste separation in Italy, applying and extending a model originally developed for Southern regions. The model integrates the Theory of Reasoned Action and the Value-Belief-Norm framework to explain how values, norms, and attitudes shape waste separation intentions and behaviours. Using data from 321 online survey respondents, this study tests the model’s validity in Northern Italy. Additionally, the study examines the relationships among the variables under investigation in people residing in the Northern and Southern regions of Italy. Findings confirm the model (χ² (10) = 28.118, p = 0.002, CFI = 0.956; RMSEA = 0.075; AIC = 8.118): bio-altruistic values and social norms significantly predict positive attitudes, which in turn determine behavioural intentions. Perceived distributive unfairness is negatively associated with attitudes toward waste separation. Separation behaviour is mainly influenced by internal attributions and knowledge, while egoistic values show a negative relationship. The multi-group analysis indicates a good model fit for both Northern and Southern samples (χ² (31) = 45.059, p = 0.049, CFI = 0.969; RMSEA = 0.053; AIC = −16.941), suggesting consistent psychosocial mechanisms. By integrating psychosocial insights with behavioural data, this research highlights the importance of knowledge, fairness, and social norms in promoting sustainable waste management. The findings provide practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners to design regionally communication and participation strategies that enhance the long-term sustainability of waste separation systems in Italy.