Research on key factors influencing public acceptance of nuclear facilities decommissioning projects

Abstract

Public acceptance plays a crucial role in advancing nuclear facility decommissioning projects. Based on questionnaire survey data (n = 1001), this study evaluated public acceptance levels in a specific Chinese region and examines key influencing factors and their pathways. The results indicate that public acceptance in the surveyed region remains at a moderate level, with familiarity scoring the lowest. Both perceived benefits and perceived risks are also rated as moderate. Weighted factor analysis reveals that familiarity exerts a stronger influence on public acceptance than trust, perception risk, or perception benefit. Specifically, public acceptance is primarily shaped by three factors: personal relevance to the nuclear, cognitive understanding, and safety perceptions. This suggests that local residents base their decisions primarily on subjective perceptions, with particular emphasis on perceived risks associated with decommissioning. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that perceived risk has a significant negative impact on public acceptance, whereas perceived benefits show no statistically significant positive effect. Trust and familiarity not only directly enhance acceptance but also indirectly influence it by mediating perceived benefits and risks. In conclusion, efforts to improve public acceptance in this region should prioritize increasing public familiarity with nuclear decommissioning and implementing targeted communication strategies to mitigate excessive risk perception.