National and local acceptance of nuclear power: A closer look at environmental benefit perception

Abstract

Understanding how perceptions of nuclear power influence its acceptance is key to developing effective public communication strategies. This study highlighted areas of similarity and dissimilarity between such perceptions in their effects on national and local acceptance of nuclear power. Using a nationwide sample of South Korean residents, we found that energy supply benefit perception, environmental benefit perception, and risk perception all have a significant effect on national acceptance of nuclear power; however, for local acceptance, the effect of energy supply benefit perception is insignificant while those of environmental benefit perception and risk perception are significant. The relative effect size of risk perception compared to the effect size of energy supply benefit perception is greater for local acceptance than for national acceptance; similarly, the relative effect size of environmental benefit perception compared to the effect size of energy supply benefit perception is greater for local acceptance than for national acceptance. These results highlight similarity and dissimilarity in effect patterns between the perceptions: similarity between environmental benefit perception and risk perception, and dissimilarity between environmental benefit perception and energy supply benefit perception. These findings offer insight for public communication strategies tailored to acceptance type: national and local acceptance of nuclear power.