Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

6-2018

Abstract

The term “climate change” has evolved from what was originally a technical term employed by scientists into a symbolic referent involving complex social, political, and moral considerations that have spurred worldwide debate. As evidence of the anthropogenic influence on the Earth’s climate has grown over the past few decades, climate change has come to be viewed as a primary challenge to be confronted in the twenty-first century. Geoengineering, or climate engineering, is a set of large-scale technological interventions proposed to offset climatic changes. This study seeks to understand which factors contribute to, or alternatively, detract from public acceptance of geoengineering through robust path analytic modeling of public perceptions of geoengineering that may better serve the academic community and decision-makers. This study finds that familiarity, epistemic trust, preference for alternative solutions to climate change, and media consumption are interrelated in their influences on opinions toward geoengineering proposals and support for funding further geoengineering research. Such predictive modeling can enable risk communicators and policy-makers with vital information to support anticipatory governance approaches to policy initiatives and improve future public engagement and communication about geoengineering.

Keywords

Climate change, Geoengineering, Path analysis, Public opinion

Discipline

Environmental Sciences | Nature and Society Relations | Physical and Environmental Geography

Research Areas

Integrative Research Areas

Publication

Environment Systems and Decisions

Volume

38

Issue

2

First Page

208

Last Page

215

ISSN

2194-5403

Identifier

10.1007/s10669-018-9683-8

Publisher

Springer

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-018-9683-8

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