Risk perceptions of nuclear energy, climate change, and earthquake: How are they correlated and differentiated by ideologies?

Abstract

Nuclear energy is a complicated issue for both the public and policymakers because it is perceived as a possible solution to climate change risk, but it is also a safety concern, especially since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. This paper examines the factors that influence the risk perceptions of nuclear power plants in Taiwan, focusing on the correlations between risk perceptions of nuclear power plants, climate change, and earthquakes. We analyzed the 2013 and 2019 Taiwan Social Change Survey (TSGS) data using the ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions models. The results demonstrate strong positive correlations between the risk perceptions of the nuclear plant, climate change, and the presence of earthquakes.We argue that the public does not consider a “risk–risk trade-off” between climate change and nuclear energy. Instead, the perceptions of all the risk factors are strongly correlated. Women and respondents with conservative political ideology reported higher risk perceptions of nuclear power plants. Since the ruling party switched between the survey date (2013 and 2019), the trust in government significantly correlated with the nuclear risk perceptions very differently. Thus this paper can provide valuable implications contributing to climate and energy policymaking in the future.