Environmental Management and Policy Decisions: Understanding the Influences on Public Acceptance

Abstract

Public acceptance shapes the implementation of technology, governance, and policy. Failure to achieve public acceptance has been expressed by the general public through lack of consumer acceptance, vilification in the media, and loss of political popularity. These actions can harm the realization of a sustainable product, renewable energies, or environmental policy. Conversely, achieving public acceptance can result in successes and support. In the face of global environmental change, innovating and working towards sustainability goals requires public acceptance and support as this is an issue that technology cannot address alone. When attempting to create change on a global scale the participation and acceptance of individuals, companies and governments is necessary. This dissertation contributes to both research and practice by addressing public acceptance in context of current events. I evaluate relevant and consequential activities conducted by individuals, companies, and governments for factors that affect public acceptance with the intent to improve understanding of barriers to acceptance. The first section helps to clarify the public acceptance of individual environmental behavior by addressing who is willing to take future action to address issues of global environmental change. The second section of this dissertation evaluates responses and acceptance of corporate sustainability behavior in response to controversy. The third section focuses on the outcome of federal policy changes and the impact on public acceptance.