Cooking up change: Identity, practice, and policy in Australian household stovetop electrification

The electrification of household stovetops represents a critical pathway for reducing carbon emissions in high-income countries. This transition could reduce thousands of tonnes of emissions from gas combustion. The present study investigates how home-owners' approach stovetop electrification decisions, examining the relevance of climate change attitudes, policy incentives and demographic factors. The research specifically recruited ethnically diverse communities and compared older individuals with young families to capture varied cooking traditions, renovation timelines, and experiences of historical energy transitions. From “on-the-spot” interviews (n = 61), the findings demonstrate that stovetop electrification decisions follow three pathways: ‘renovators’ making necessary changes, ‘moral electrifiers’ driven by climate change concerns, and ‘solarisers’ making linked changes after installing solar panels. Both ethnic background and life-stage were meaningful influences. Climate change opinions didn't shape stovetop electrification for the majority. Cheaper running costs, being cleaner and being safer contributed to induction stovetops being accepted technology. These insights demonstrate the ways through which individuals synthesise climate change opinions, policy signals, and established practices through the lens of their cultural background and life circumstances to inform climate-relevant decisions. Understanding these person-centred dynamics is crucial for effective policy design and successful implementation.