Laypeople's Risky Decisions in the Climate Change Context: Climate Engineering as a Risk-Defusing Strategy?

It examines whether laypeople perceive CE to be an acceptable back-up strategy (plan B) if current efforts to mitigate CO 2 emissions were to fail. This idea is a common justification for CE research in the scientific debate and may significantly influence future public debates.

Ninety-eight German participants chose their preferred climate policy strategy in a quasi-realistic scenario. Participants could chose between mitigation and three CE techniques as alternative options. We employed a think-aloud interview technique, which allowed us to trace participants’ informational needs and thought processes.