POLIMP 1st Policy Brief: Acceleration of clean technology deployment within the EU: The role of social acceptance

Large-scale GHG emission reductions are feasible to attain, both technically and economically. It is essential to consider the social aspects that influence the acceptance of climate-friendly technologies and measures, however, because a lack of public acceptance may delay or halt the exploitation of these opportunities.

The following five elements are thought to determine the level of public acceptance of clean technologies: awareness of climate change and knowledge of clean technologies; fairness of the decision-making process; the overall evaluation of costs, risks and benefits; the local context; and trust in decision-makers and other relevant stakeholders.

A clear strategy should be used to gain public acceptance of clean technologies and avoid (large-scale) public resistance. This applies both to the level of individual projects, where developers and the government should consider all five elements of acceptance, and to higher policy-making levels, where awareness and fairness, in particular, should be taken into account.