Exploring early public responses to geoengineering

Pidgeon, Nicholas Frank ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8991-0398, Corner, Adam J., Parkhill, Karen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9655-7414, Spence, Alexa Anne, Butler, Catherine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7589-9565 and Poortinga, Wouter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6926-8545 2012. Exploring early public responses to geoengineering. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series A: Mathematical and Physical Sciences 370 (1974) , pp. 4176-4196. 10.1098/rsta.2012.0099

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Abstract

Proposals for geoengineering the Earth's climate are prime examples of emerging or ‘upstream’ technologies, because many aspects of their effectiveness, cost and risks are yet to be researched, and in many cases are highly uncertain. This paper contributes to the emerging debate about the social acceptability of geoengineering technologies by presenting preliminary evidence on public responses to geoengineering from two of the very first UK studies of public perceptions and responses. The discussion draws upon two datasets: qualitative data (from an interview study conducted in 42 households in 2009), and quantitative data (from a subsequent nationwide survey (n=1822) of British public opinion). Unsurprisingly, baseline awareness of geoengineering was extremely low in both cases. The data from the survey indicate that, when briefly explained to people, carbon dioxide removal approaches were preferred to solar radiation management, while significant positive correlations were also found between concern about climate change and support for different geoengineering approaches. We discuss some of the wider considerations that are likely to shape public perceptions of geoengineering as it enters the media and public sphere, and conclude that, aside from technical considerations, public perceptions are likely to prove a key element influencing the debate over questions of the acceptability of geoengineering proposals.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
Uncontrolled Keywords:	geoengineering; public attitudes; risk perceptions
Publisher:	Royal Society of London
ISSN:	0080-4614
Last Modified:	07 Apr 2023 06:24
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/31060

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