New tool for gauging public opinion reveals skepticism of climate engineering

Such research is crucial because even if the goal of reducing global temperatures by two degrees Celsius -- as set forth in the Paris Agreement signed onto by 195 nations in December -- is achieved, it will not halt the impacts of global climate change, including sea-level rise, shifts in rainfall, and extreme weather events . Given this context, a growing number of scientists are advocating for climate engineering technologies, also referred to as "geoengineering." In choosing whether and in what manner to implement such technologies, policymakers must inform the public about their benefits and risks while also listening to public input on policy options.

The two most typical methods of gauging public opinion are surveys and deliberative focus groups. The former allows for greater sample sizes while the latter allows for dialogue and learning. The topic of climate engineering poses challenges to both of these methods, however, because such technology is not well-understood by the public and its outcomes are uncertain.

Understanding public perceptions of emerging technologies is one of the central research objectives at CNS-UCSB. In order to assess public views of climate engineering, researchers affiliated with CNS-UCSB have devised a tool called a "decision pathway survey." In combining the strengths of both surveys and deliberations, these decision pathway surveys include learning through tutorials, providing explanation of how the values and ethics of respondents inform their decision-making process in general and as they learn more about climate change and climate engineering technology.

CNS-UCSB Director Barbara Herr Harthorn explains, "The pathway approach provides a more conversation-like form of survey that can tell us more about why public views develop rather than just the end judgments at which the public arrives."

The two climate engineering approaches introduced in the study are sunlight reflection technologies (SRTs) and carbon dioxide removal technologies (CDRTs). Notable results of the surveys were as follows:

• Of three CDRT options, over 80% of participants favored planting new forests or adding biotic infrastructure (algae/plankton) to sequester carbon. The third option was storing carbon in industrial machines.
• Of four SRT options, respondents favored technologies that increase reflectivity of buildings or road surfaces followed by using large mirrors to reflect light and heat away from Earth. The other two options were brightening clouds and injecting reflective particles into the atmosphere.
• Those most concerned about climate change generally favor implementing climate engineering policies and investment in renewable resources (55-65%). This support is offered even though these participants regard the risks of climate engineering as more likely than its benefits.
• Those least concerned still support some geoengineering interventions but are more likely to want to do nothing more or to slow decisions down. These participants are generally mistrustful of government involvement, but are somewhat supportive of initiatives involving renewables (38%).