The effect path of public communication on public acceptance of nuclear energy

Wen-Hui Qi, Ming-Liang Qi and Ya-Min Ji

Energy Policy, 2020, vol. 144, issue C

Abstract: Nuclear power plants in operation usually take public communication measures to increase the public acceptance of nuclear energy. This study explores how public communication affects public acceptance. The data were obtained through questionnaire surveys (N = 364) of residents living around the Qinshan, Tianwan, and Hongyanhe nuclear power plants in China. Based on the researches of mass communication effect path, a structural equation model showed that public communication cannot affect public acceptance directly, but can indirectly affect public acceptance through three paths. In the first path, public communication positively affects trust, trust positively affects perceived benefit, and perceived benefit positively affects public acceptance. In the second path, public communication positively affects trust, trust negatively affects perceived risk, and perceived risk negatively affects public acceptance. In the third path, public communication positively affects perceived benefit, and perceived benefit positively affects public acceptance. Furthermore, public communication has a positive effect on knowledge, but has no effect on public risk. This study also showed that knowledge cannot affect perceived risk and perceived benefit. We proposed policy suggestions based on the results.

Keywords: Nuclear energy; Public communication; Public acceptance; Effect path; Structural equation model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:enepol:v:144:y:2020:i:c:s0301421520303864

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111655

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