45. Benjamin Sovacool and Chad Baum on global trends in public perceptions of climate technologies

Challenging Climate

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Benjamin Sovacool and Dr. Chad Baum, about their newly published, high-impact paper, “Public Perceptions and Support of Climate Intervention Technologies across the Global North and Global South”. Join us as we discuss the key findings of their work, and how these findings can and should influence policy and governance methods.
Dr. Benjamin Sovacool is a professor with affiliations at Aarhus University, the University of Sussex and Boston University. Dr. Chad Baum is Assistant Professor at the Department of Business Development and Technology of Aarhus University.
Links:

• Ben Sovacool’s profile
• Chad Baum’s profile
• The GENIE project
• Their Nature paper, Public Perceptions and Support of Climate Intervention Technologies across the Global North and Global South and accessible summary
• Check out their paper on sentiments and emotions of climate tech on Twitter
• And another one on field testing radical climate interventions,
• And another one on co-impacts
• Also check out our related episode with Luke Iseman on Make Sunsets

Support the Show.

Subscribe for email updates

Chapters

1. 45. Benjamin Sovacool and Chad Baum on global trends in public perceptions of climate technologies (00:00:00)

2. Intro and background (00:00:19)

3. Introduction on their newly published paper on public perceptions on climate technologies (00:01:13)

4. Key findings of the paper (00:05:52)

5. Findings on support of policy and governance methods (00:10:46)

6. What are the leading drivers of these observed trends? (00:14:13)

7. Reception and reactions to these results within the academic community (00:18:18)

8. What role do you see public perception work playing in the policy process or broader debate? (00:22:11)

9. Ensuring robustness and impartiality when designing the survey (00:23:39)

10. Acquiescence bias (00:28:16)

11. Past paper on public perceptions on solar geoengineering (00:30:40)

12. Do the governments’ responses reflect public perceptions? (00:33:14)

13. The GENIE Project (00:35:10)

14. Contestations within the climate community (00:40:50)

15. What has surprised you and have your own views changed? (00:46:22)

16. What gives you hope? (00:50:53)