International differences in the public perception of solar radiation management: Results from a cross-country survey

Solar radiation management (SRM) aims to counteract the negative consequences of global warming and may be deployed in the event that mitigation and adaptation efforts appear insufficient. Because SRM is a new technology and... [ view full abstract ]

Solar radiation management (SRM) aims to counteract the negative consequences of global warming and may be deployed in the event that mitigation and adaptation efforts appear insufficient. Because SRM is a new technology and its potential ecological and political side effects are not well understood, research on the public perception of this technology is required. Moreover, an international perspective on SRM is important because SRM will have global effects and because people with different cultural backgrounds may hold different perceptions. We therefore conducted an online survey on the acceptance, perceived risks and beliefs related to SRM in representative samples from Canada, China, Germany, Switzerland, the UK and the US (N = 2,327).
According to our results, the main cross-country difference was that the Chinese respondents perceived SRM more positively than their North American and European counterparts. Moreover, regression analyses on the acceptance of SRM showed that—after controlling for differences in value orientations—lower acceptability ratings for SRM in Canada and Europe were mostly related to stronger beliefs that SRM tampers with nature. Chinese respondents, by contrast, were more accepting of SRM when they held stronger beliefs that it may alleviate the motivation to climate mitigation efforts. In all six countries, concern about climate change was positively related to support for SRM, whereas a higher risk perception reduced acceptance.
The cross-country differences in the perception of SRM and in the factors related to the acceptance of SRM confirmed the need for an international perspective. Although our and previous research suggest that many people in western countries oppose SRM, people from countries that are less prepared to mitigate and adapt to climate change are likely to be more supportive of SRM. It thus seems premature to dismiss this technology entirely based on the public’s perception. Dismissing SRM because the public would not accept it thus seems premature.