Dirk Scheer

Public evaluation of electricity technologies and future low-carbon portfolios in Germany and the USA

BackgroundThis paper aims to create insights into peoples technology preferences in striving to achieve a low-carbon electricity generation system. The investigation seeks to analyze informed rather than mere opinion-based public preferences towards electricity technologies and portfolios against the background of climate mitigation options. In order to compare Germany with its strong renewable energy focus with a more fossil fuel- and nuclear-oriented country, the study presented replicates a research carried out in the USA in order to deliver data enabling such comparison. A special focus is on assessing attitudes and opinions towards carbon capture and storage as a low-carbon technology option.MethodsA mixed-method focus group approach has been elaborated and applied for 15 focus groups including a total of 130 participants nationwide. The approach first starts off with a traditional focus group design, i.e., discussion rounds with 8 to 10 participants led by a facilitator in order to collect qualitative data. This traditional focus group approach is extended by a quantitative survey design where participants had to fill out several closed-question questionnaires before and during the discussion rounds.ResultsMain quantitative results presented in this article consist of an electricity technology ranking and an electricity portfolio ranking. The results show considerable differences between US and German participants. While nuclear energy and the carbon capture and storage technology option are high ranking in the USA, German participants clearly favor renewable energies.ConclusionsThe comparison made clear that the stated preferences show a country bias, revealing a unique profile of technology and portfolio preferences in the USA and Germany. The policies that lie ahead of society need to find approval by stakeholders and the public at large, and therefore need to integrate acceptance profiles into communication and information activities.

Eco-labelling and consumers: towards a re-focus and integrated approaches

The paper deals with voluntary environmental product information schemes, especially with eco-labels (ISO-type I labels). It distingushes direct (i.e., effects attained through the application of eco-labelling on products and services) and indirect (i.e., effects induced by eco-labelling schemes on surrounding policy, businesses and society without their visible application) effects of eco-labels. It presents an overview on the state on assessment and evaluation studies. Based on this broad picture a set of key influencing factors are introduced, two of them are general; the others are dependent on the product group. It is argued that if all factors are positive, this very likely determines the success of an eco-label Finally an integrated approach is introduced which is needed to develop effective schemes.

Public Perception of geoengineering and its consequences for public debate

Reviewing the existing studies of public perception and drawing analogies from other risk technologies, this paper explores the public positions on research and implementation of geoengineering as a means to combat climate change. Existing studies on geoengineering perceptions show low levels of awareness and a lack of knowledge. Hence, existing attitudes on geoengineering can be judged instable and stimulus-dependent. When judged in isolation, at least one third favors the use of geoengineering technologies preferring CDR over SRM technologies; when judged in comparison to other climate mitigation options, approval rates lose considerably support. Moreover, people seem to cautiously support research but oppose deployment while attitude formation depends on personal values and belief systems. The results of the empirical studies were fed into a Delphi workshop with experts for reflecting on the future development of public opinion and for designing a communication and public involvement process that corresponds to the empirical insights gained from the perception studies.

Risk governance and emerging technologies: learning from case study integration

Emerging technologies are underway in a wide array of industrial applications and need fields. When innovating on technologies, one main objective is to improve the management of safety related to their emerging risks. The iNTeg-Risk project undertook 17 case studies covering current key innovations and focusing on their corresponding risks. Thus, a major challenge is to integrate the case study research into a common framework on adequate future risk and safety concepts which might serve policy and stakeholder decision-makers as a background for risk-related decisions in the future. Within this paper, we looked on similarities and disparities on how these case studies assess, manage, and communicate risk issues. A telephone survey with case study task leaders has been carried out in order to identifying the state-of-the-art of how the case studies deal with risk governance issues.

Fokusgruppen im Mixed-Method-Design: Kombination einer standardisierten und qualitativen Erhebung

Zur Analyse von Einstellungen und Bewertungen von Stromtechnologien und dem zukunftigen deutschen Strommix wurde ein Fokusgruppenansatz im Mixed- Method-Design entwickelt. Dieser kombiniert den qualitativen Ansatz von Gruppendiskussionen mit standardisierten Befragungen der Fokusgruppenteilnehmer. Die Vorstellung und Erlauterung dieses Ansatzes steht im Mittelpunkt des folgenden Aufsatzes, indem zunachst Anforderungen und Design beschrieben und sodann Erfahrungen bei der praktischen Anwendung berichtet werden.

Combined Natural and Social Science Approach for Regional-Scale Characterisation of CO2 Storage Formations and Brine Migration Risks (CO2BRIM)

The CO2BRIM project pursues a combined technical-social sciences approach for investigating participatory modelling applied to different stages of a characterisation of potential CO2 storage formations. From the technical point of view, the project deals with two topics: The first one is concerned with an early stage site screening, where the Gravitational Number (Gr) is used as an indicator for storage efficiency dependent on the conditions found in German Middle Buntsandstein rock units. The second topic addresses the problem of large-scale salt water displacement due to the injection of CO2. Both topics are accompanied by a method called Participatory Modelling, where third parties, i.e. stakeholders with different background, are involved into the modelling process. This report gives some details about the methodological aspects of participatory modelling for the two technical topics and discusses the results for the Gr-characterisation in detail; first results and preliminary discussions from work on large-scale brine displacement are added at the end.

Partizipative Modellierung: Erkenntnisse und Erfahrungen aus einer Methodengenese

Dieser Beitrag widmet sich der partizipativen Modellierung (PM). Als solche fassen wir die Mitwirkung von gesellschaftlichen Anspruchsgruppen und Wissenstragern bei der Erstellung und/oder Nutzung konzeptioneller und computergestutzter Modelle. PM ist bisher vor allem in den Natur- und Technikwissenschaften zur Anwendung gekommen. Sie scheint aber zunehmend als ein Ansatz verstanden zu werden, bei dem Sozialwissenschaftler wichtige Aufgaben ubernehmen konnen. Dieser Beitrag, der konzeptionelle wie anwendungsorientierte Aspekte behandelt, stellt diese Aufgaben auf Basis einer Literaturanalyse heraus. Vorab wird PM als ein generischer Begriff fur eine Vielzahl konzeptioneller und praktischer Formate der Akteurseinbindung prasentiert und die transdisziplinare Nachhaltigkeitsforschung als Haupteinsatzgebiet von PM bestimmt. Nach der Erorterung der Rolle und Relevanz der Sozialwissenschaften in PM-Prozessen wird PM anhand des Forschungsprojekts CO2BRIM veranschaulicht. In diesem Projekt werden sozialwissenschaftliche Zugange zur partizipativen Modellierung in Bezug auf eine energie- und klimapolitisch relevante Technologieentwicklung erprobt. Dem Anwendungsbeispiel folgt eine Diskussion der Chancen und Herausforderungen von PM in transdisziplinaren Projekten.

Between Knowledge and Action: Conceptualizing Scientific Simulation and Policy-Making

This chapter conceptualizes computer simulation and policy-making at the science-policy interface exploring boundaries between scientific knowledge production and political action orientation. The conceptualization entails four layers. First, compatibilities of scientific simulations with the policy-making system rely on key characteristics of modelling meeting policy’s reasoning, forward-looking and decision oriented needs. Simulations meets these needs with their capability to reduce complexity, compare options, analyse intervention effects, deliver results in numbers, and carry out trial without error. Second, from a systemic perspective, simulations serve as a knowledge instrument contributing to secure and uncertain knowledge and the known unknowns. Simulations also enable, amplify and feedback communication. Third, taking an impact perspective, the policy use of simulations differentiates in instrumental, conceptual, strategic and procedural use patterns. Finally, evaluation and assessment of simulations by decision-makers follows several simulation-inherent and simulation-contextual criteria.

Das EU-Umweltzeichen zwischen Mauerblümchen und Blumenwiese

Die Aktivitaten zum Umweltmanagement (EMAS) und zur Umweltkennzeichnung (EU-Umweltzeichen) sind der Europaischen Kommission zufolge wichtige Masnahmen auf dem Weg zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung. Welche Rolle wird in Zukunft das EU-Umweltzeichen spielen?