Author
Listed:
- Nadja Contzen
(Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
University of Groningen)
- Goda Perlaviciute
(University of Groningen)
- Linda Steg
(University of Groningen)
- Sophie Charlotte Reckels
(Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology)
- Susana Alves
(Sapienza University of Rome)
- David Bidwell
(University of Rhode Island)
- Gisela Böhm
(University of Bergen
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences)
- Marino Bonaiuto
(Sapienza University of Rome
Sapienza University of Rome)
- Li-Fang Chou
(National Cheng Kung University)
- Victor Corral-Verdugo
(University of Sonora)
- Federica Dessi
(Sapienza University of Rome)
- Thomas Dietz
(Michigan State University)
- Rouven Doran
(University of Bergen)
- Maria do Carmo Eulálio
(State University of Paraíba)
- Kelly Fielding
(University of Queensland)
- Cristina Gómez-Román
(Universidade de Santiago de Compostela)
- Juliana V. Granskaya
(St. Petersburg State University)
- Tatyana Gurikova
(St. Petersburg State University)
- Bernardo Hernández
(University of La Laguna)
- Maira P. Kabakova
(Al-Farabi Kazakh National University)
- Chieh-Yu Lee
(University of Groningen
National Cheng Kung University)
- Fan Li
(China Agricultural University)
- Maria Luísa Lima
(Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL))
- Lu Liu
(University of Groningen)
- Sílvia Luís
(Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL))
- Gabriel Muinos
(University of Groningen)
- Charles A. Ogunbode
(University of Bergen
University of Nottingham)
- María Victoria Ortiz
(Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC))
- Nick Pidgeon
(Cardiff University)
- Maria Argüello Pitt
(Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC))
- Leila Rahimi
(University of Tabriz)
- Anastasia Revokatova
(Yu. A. Izrael Institute of Global Climate and Ecology)
- Cecilia Reyna
(Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC))
- Geertje Schuitema
(University College Dublin)
- Rachael Shwom
(Rutgers University)
- Nur Soylu Yalcinkaya
(Bogazici University)
- Elspeth Spence
(Cardiff University)
- Bernadette Sütterlin
(ETH Zurich
Zurich University of Applied Sciences)
Abstract
Some argue that complementing climate change mitigation measures with solar radiation management (SRM) might prove a last resort to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. To make a socially responsible decision on whether to use SRM, it is important to consider also public opinion, across the globe and particularly in the Global South, which would face the greatest risks from both global warming and SRM. However, most research on public opinion about SRM stems from the Global North. We report findings from the first large-scale, cross-cultural study on the public opinion about SRM among the general public (N = 2,248) and students (N = 4,583) in 20 countries covering all inhabited continents, including five countries from the Global South and five ‘non-WEIRD’ (i.e. not Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, and Democratic) countries from the Global North. As public awareness of SRM is usually low, we provided participants with information on SRM, including key arguments in favour of and against SRM that appear in the scientific debate. On average, acceptability of SRM was significantly higher in the Global South than in the ‘non-WEIRD’ Global North, while acceptability in the ‘WEIRD’ Global North was in between. However, we found substantial variation within these clusters, especially in the ‘non-WEIRD’ Global North, suggesting that countries do not form homogenous clusters and should thus be considered individually. Moreover, the average participants’ views, while generally neither strong nor polarised, differed from some expert views in important ways, including that participants perceived SRM as only slightly effective in limiting global warming. Still, our data suggests overall a conditional, reluctant acceptance. That is, while on average, people think SRM would have mostly negative consequences, they may still be willing to tolerate it as a potential last resort to fight global warming, particularly if they think SRM has only minor negative (or even positive) impacts on humans and nature.
Suggested Citation
Nadja Contzen & Goda Perlaviciute & Linda Steg & Sophie Charlotte Reckels & Susana Alves & David Bidwell & Gisela Böhm & Marino Bonaiuto & Li-Fang Chou & Victor Corral-Verdugo & Federica Dessi & Thoma, 2024.
"Public opinion about solar radiation management: A cross-cultural study in 20 countries around the world,"
Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 177(4), pages 1-25, April.
Handle:
RePEc:spr:climat:v:177:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s10584-024-03708-3
DOI: 10.1007/s10584-024-03708-3
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