András Szeberényi
57226837859
Publications - 9
Young Adults’ Feelings and Knowledge of Climate Anxiety
Publication Name: Journal of Sustainability Research
Publication Date: 2025-06-01
Volume: 7
Issue: 2
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This study investigates the impact of climate anxiety on young adults’ consumer and social behaviour. Data were collected via a questionnaire survey among 696 university students from Széchenyi István University, Budapest Metropolitan University, and Neumann János University. The survey focused on various aspects of climate anxiety, including its frequency, intensity, perceived life impact, emotional responses, and management strategies. The analysis, supported by AI tools, identified two distinct clusters: one with moderate anxiety levels and a strong interest in learning about climate change, and another with higher anxiety levels but less desire for further information. Various statistical models, including Naive Bayes, logistic regression, and random forests, were employed to identify behavioural patterns, with decision trees showing the lowest classification error. The study highlights the significant influence of climate anxiety on the shift towards sustainable consumption and active engagement in climate action. Recommendations for future research include the broader application of deep learning models and extending the study to other demographic groups. Longitudinal data collection is also suggested to track long-term trends and inform effective public policy and communication strategies. The findings emphasise the need for comprehensive approaches to understanding and addressing climate anxiety’s societal impacts.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.20900/jsr20250025
Impact of Climate Change on Electric Energy Production from Medium-Size Photovoltaic Module Systems Based on RCP Climate Scenarios
Publication Name: Energies
Publication Date: 2024-08-01
Volume: 17
Issue: 16
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The impact of climate change is increasingly evident in various domains today and is gaining prominence in scientific inquiries. Climate change also affects the utilisation of renewable energies. The article examines the effects of 21st-century climate change on the annual electric energy production of medium-sized photovoltaic module systems. The study bases its analysis on three possible scenarios: a pessimistic (RCP 8.5), a less pessimistic (RCP 4.5), and an optimistic (RCP 2.6) scenario. The applied Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) scenarios were developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to enhance comparability in analyses related to climate change. Compared to older linear models, an innovation utilises a more flexible and multidirectional model. One of the article’s key findings is that, for all three examined settlements, the annual yield of the studied photovoltaic systems will surpass the levels of the base year 2010 by the middle and end of the century. Another significant outcome is that, under the three scenarios analysed, the ratio of annual performance variation to annual global radiation variation shows substantial differences by the middle and end of the century compared to the 2010 baseline. In the optimistic scenario, this ratio exceeds 1, whereas in the pessimistic and less pessimistic scenarios, it falls below 1. This ratio does not directly inform about the annual production—which increases in all cases—but rather about the changes in efficiency. These efficiency changes are influenced by the rise in annual average temperatures and the fluctuation in sunny hours yearly. The third finding reveals that under the climate change pessimistic scenario (RCP 8.5), the efficiency decrease is less adverse than in the less pessimistic scenario (RCP 4.5).
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/en17164009
Electricity Market Dynamics and Regional Interdependence in the Face of Pandemic Restrictions and the Russian–Ukrainian Conflict
Publication Name: Energies
Publication Date: 2023-09-01
Volume: 16
Issue: 18
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Electricity constitutes a significant part of the consumption basket of European households and companies. Since energy products are essential components of almost all products and services, any change in energy prices directly impacts the general price level of those products and services. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of power exchange data between 2019 and 2022. For the analysis, we examined the data of 15 countries. In the research, we compared electricity prices in European power exchanges using the Jaccard similarity index and the overlap coefficient, using the DAM hourly prices between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2022. We transformed the time series into networks using the visibility graph procedure and compared the networks of the studied countries using the two comparison methods with the degree distribution functions. Our aim is to examine how the market anomalies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian–Ukrainian conflict affect European electricity markets and how quickly the repercussions spread across the studied countries’ exchanges, and whether they show persistent or anti-persistent characteristics. The results support that similar market effects significantly influence the pattern of price changes among the countries. The methods forming the basis of the research can provide significant assistance in analyzing market trends and contribute to a better understanding of market processes.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/en16186515
How Does Sustainability Governance Shape the Green Finance and Climate Nexus?
Publication Name: Sustainability Switzerland
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The proposed research aims to analyse the effects of the relationship between Sustainability Governance (SG) and Climate Impact (CI), taking into consideration Green Finance (GF). Furthermore, it examines how Institutional Support (IS) enhances the governance systems governing these variables. The research provides a holistic approach for analysing the effects of financial dynamics on climate impacts. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed in this research study. The data were collected from various industries using a standardised questionnaire. The structural model examined the direct and indirect relationships between variables such as GF, SG, and CI. IS emerged as the moderated variable. The outcomes of the study confirmed that “GF has an important and direct as well as indirect (through SG as the mediator) impact on CI. IS significantly increases SG and thus exerts an overall enhancing effect on the impact of GF on the climate.” The study has supported the research objectives and aims. The limitations of this study comprised constraints related to both time and cost. The researchers encountered limitations in accessing senior managers and directors of various organisations for the study. IS emerged as an important intermediate factor that can significantly link various actions and activities that impact the climate. This study supports both global and local research objectives. The study offers significant insights, underscoring the critical role of SG within Green Business (GB). Additionally, IS emerges as a vital enabling tool that strengthens the overall governance framework. The study contributes significantly to the development of integrated frameworks for institutions seeking to effectively address environmental challenges. The implications for action indicate that furthering entrenched institutional structures and instilling good governance practices can add tremendous value to the transformation potential of GF and usher in accelerated efforts to achieve national and international objectives on climate change.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/su18021022
Generational differences and patterns in climate anxiety symptoms among adolescents and young adults in Budapest, Hungary
Publication Name: Discover Sustainability
Publication Date: 2026-12-01
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
A growing number of young people now perceive climate change as an existential threat rather than a distant environmental issue. This study investigates the relationship between environmental awareness and symptoms of climate anxiety among two generational groups – Generation Z (aged 28–29) and Generation Alpha (aged 14–15) – residing in Budapest, and fills an empirical gap in the Hungarian context regarding how urban youth segments process ecological distress. Data were collected via an anonymous online questionnaire, distributed between January 12 and March 31, 2025, through targeted social media groups. Screening questions limited participation to the target age groups. The survey covered environmental awareness, sustainable behaviors, and psychological and physical symptoms, resulting in 701 valid responses. Four hypotheses were tested using non-parametric statistical analyses, primarily Spearman’s rank correlation and Mann–Whitney U tests. All statistical analyses were conducted with SPSS software version 27, and selected calculations were cross-validated using the WolframAlpha analytics tool. The findings indicate that climate-related distress is a multidimensional phenomenon shaped by environmental attitudes, sex, and generational context. Among young adult males in Generation Z, higher levels of environmental engagement and knowledge were associated with a reduced sense of helplessness, suggesting that taking action can serve as a psychological protective factor. Sex-based comparisons revealed that female participants reported significantly higher levels of clinical symptoms, particularly anxiety, irritability, and nervousness. In contrast, male participants were more likely to report physical manifestations such as muscle pain. Generation Z females exhibited higher levels of apathy, whereas Generation Alpha females reported more acute nervousness. The study also highlights the critical link between mental health and environmental action, contributing to the broader framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These results underscore the importance of age- and sex-sensitive approaches when addressing the psychological impact of the climate crisis. The research emphasizes that promoting mental health (SDG 3) is viewed as an essential catalyst for effective climate action (SDG 13).
Open Access: Yes
Public Acceptance of Renewable Energy in a Post-Socialist, Energy Import-Dependent Context: Evidence from Hungary
Publication Name: Energies
Publication Date: 2026-02-01
Volume: 19
Issue: 4
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Public acceptance is a key prerequisite for renewable energy deployment, yet evidence from post-socialist, energy import-dependent countries remains limited, and acceptance is often treated as a single construct. This study examines Hungary and distinguishes between (i) general societal support for renewable energy and (ii) individual-level commitment to adoption. Using an online survey conducted in October–November 2024 (N = 417), we test for an acceptance gap and assess attitudinal drivers with paired-sample t-tests, OLS regression, and cluster-based comparisons. Results show a significant acceptance gap: general societal support exceeds individual-level commitment (mean difference = 0.17 on a three-point scale; Cohen’s d = 0.36; p < 0.001). In bivariate terms, perceived economic benefits exhibit only a weak association with acceptance, but in multivariate models they emerge as a strong predictor of individual-level commitment (β = 0.600; R2 = 0.407), whereas environmental attitudes and energy security perceptions show weaker and non-significant independent effects. Cluster analysis further indicates heterogeneous attitudinal profiles and varying levels of acceptance, suggesting that economic evaluations operate as an enabling dimension within broader attitudinal configurations rather than a standalone driver. These findings highlight why broad societal endorsement may not translate into personal engagement and imply that policy strategies should complement general pro-renewable narratives with measures that address perceived feasibility and individual-level costs and uncertainties.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/en19040931
Safety to Sustainability: The Role of Household Financial Literacy in the Green Transition
Publication Name: World Sustainability Series
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: Part F1959
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 55-73
Description:
Financial literacy is increasingly valued not simply as an individual good but as a public good necessary for the low-carbon transition. This chapter explores the relation between financial literacy, resilience, and the goals of sustainable finance in the case of Hungary. Integrating the literature from other countries with survey data from 361 respondents, the study finds a critical “intention-behavior gap”: respondents report high subjective financial literacy, but household behaviour is still defensive, where precautionary savings are preferred before long-term green investing. It is arguable that this “safety-first” mentality is a rational response to historical economic instability, and poses a structural barrier to the uptake of sustainable finance topics. The research implies a relationship where financial resilience is not a competitor to sustainability, but rather a necessary prerequisite for sustainable investing. Therefore, to release household capital into the green transition, policymakers need to reorganise financial education as a pathway for resilience as a baseline for climate-aligned financial engagement.
Open Access: Yes
Risk Management for Road Projects in Mountainous Terrain: A Case Study of Learnings from the Himalayan Belt
Publication Name: World Sustainability Series
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: Part F1959
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 473-497
Description:
Infrastructure projects, especially in emerging market countries, are critical to the economic and social development of the countries. The identification of key risk factors and their efficient management are critical to the success of such projects. The risk factors are often special in nature in a mountainous terrain. To investigate the same, we have studied the road highway projects in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, which is contiguous to the Himalayan mountains. This is a strategically as well as ecologically sensitive area, where the highway infrastructure needs to be developed with a sense of balance and appropriate risk management measures. Our in-depth study, using primary and qualitative research methods, has brought out several key risk factors, including those specific to mountainous terrain. We have used a comprehensive set of data sources including interviews of stakeholders, documents relating to the projects, and project images at the sites. We believe that our study on the road projects in the Himalayan belt is amongst the few major study focussed on the intersection of the risks in a large mountainous terrain and the demands of a fast-developing economy like India. Using our findings, we have made several specific and actionable recommendations to improve the risk management and bankability of the highway projects, especially in the large mountainous terrain and in emerging economies. Our study will inform policymakers, stakeholders, and investors, enhancing risk management and outcomes.
Open Access: Yes
Modeling the drivers of climate impact in food systems: an interpretive structural modeling approach based on life cycle assessment
Publication Name: Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy
Publication Date: 2026-07-01
Volume: 28
Issue: 7
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The agri-food systems have been found to be major contributors to the greenhouse gases emission in the world because of the overlapping interactions in the production, processing, and supply chain processes. Despite being an extremely effective instrument of attracting environmental hotspots, the life cycle assessment (LCA) is often incapable of capturing interdependencies between other important drivers. This study addresses this gap by integrating LCA-based insights with interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis to examine the structural relationships among climate impact drivers in food systems. The sample size has been established as 18 drivers based on the comprehensive review of literature and validated by the experts of the domain. A hierarchical model was developed with the help of ISM, and MICMAC analysis was also developed in which the variables were clustered in terms of their power of driving and dependence. The results show that the system is very interdependent and has a clear top-driven structure that has carbon and water footprint capability, resource use efficiency, and technological performance as the major driving forces. The policy support and complexity of the supply chains are the dependent variables, and the land use change and energy consumption are the variables that mediate the system dynamics. The findings also indicate that to effectively reduce climate and provide practical recommendations to the policymakers and industry players, systems-based approach is necessary to focus on high-impaction points of interventions.
Open Access: Yes
