Research on Key Factors of Public Acceptance of High-Level Radioactive Geological Disposal in China

Abstract

The safe disposal of high-level radioactive (HLW) waste is essential for the sustainable development of the nuclear industry, which hinges on public support and acceptance of HLW geological disposal projects. Understanding public acceptance of HLW geological disposal and its related influencing factors is crucial for policy-making and project promotion. This study investigated the impact of five main influencing factors (cognitive level, trust level, perceived benefit, perceived risk, and entitlements) on public acceptance through the analysis of questionnaire data using the XGBoost model and structural equation modeling. The relationships and interaction pathways among these factors were also examined. The results of the XGBoost model indicates that among the five main factors, perceived risk and perceived benefit have the highest weights, while trust level has the lowest weight, with perceived benefit having a weight of 0.376. The five sub factors with the most significant impact are the right to know, understanding of nuclear weapons, the impact on the ecological environment, promote the local economy, and understanding of nuclear power plants. Structural equation modeling demonstrates that perceived risk, cognitive level, perceived benefit, and trust level can all influence public acceptance through direct effects, while the impact of entitlements on public acceptance is indirect. Specifically, perceived risk and cognitive level exert negative effects on the acceptance of HLW geological disposal, while perceived benefit, trust level, and the right to know can positively influence public acceptance.

Keywords: High-level radioactive waste, Public acceptance, Geological disposal, Perceived risk, Perceived benefits