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Understanding the dynamic changes in public support for waste incineration power plants in China's first-tier cities

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  • Xie, Yongjing
  • Lin, Boqiang

Abstract

Public attitudes play a critical role in successfully developing waste incineration power plants (WIPPs). China's installed capacity for WIPPs has grown rapidly in recent years, accompanied by increasing environmental awareness and stricter pollution control standards. These developments suggest that public attitudes toward WIPPs may undergo dynamic changes. However, existing research has primarily relied on single cross-sectional data, which fails to capture these evolving sentiments. This study utilized data from two large-scale online surveys conducted in 2019 and 2024 across four first-tier cities in China, yielding 6689 valid questionnaires. Our findings indicate that public support for WIPPs has increased significantly between 2019 and 2024. By 2024, women expressed higher levels of support than men, a trend absent in 2019. Meanwhile, factors like having children, higher education, and homeownership influenced support in 2019 but no longer do so in 2024. Additionally, key drivers behind the rise in public support include increased awareness of WIPPs, greater openness, stricter environmental regulations, and enhanced transparency in pollution emission information. Based on these insights, we offer targeted policy recommendations.

Suggested Citation

  • Xie, Yongjing & Lin, Boqiang, 2025. "Understanding the dynamic changes in public support for waste incineration power plants in China's first-tier cities," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:247:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125007268
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123064
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