Several regions in the world are seeing an increase in the chances of catastrophic wildfires, driven primarily by climate change. Power companies in places like California are enacting public safety power shutoffs (PSPS), a type of indirect climate adaptation policy, to reduce the risk of wildfires during periods of favorable wildfire conditions. While PSPS may reduce the risk of wildfires, it may also impact health and normal daily activities - e. g., inability to use certain home medical equipment or use a fan during a heat wave to being unable to attend school or perform work. Little is known about how Californians view PSPS, and how personal wildfire experience and existing vulnerabilities may relate to those views. In December 2020, a representative sample of 1,108 Californians was surveyed online and by phone to address this gap. Moderate levels of support for PSPS were observed. More personal wildfire experiences in terms of health, hazard exposures, and hazard outcomes were positively related to wildfire risk appraisal and hazard worries, which in turn was associated with more support for PSPS. However, worry about possible negative impacts from PSPS was negatively related to support for PSPS. Improved communications may provide targeted information to households that are the most exposed or vulnerable to wildfires and their impacts, as well as on ways exposure can be reduced. Climate adaptation policies informed by understanding the climate hazard and climate solutions risks the public faces may reduce unintended consequences, while also allowing for more rapid adaptation to climate change.
Wong-Parodi, G
Support for public safety power shutoffs in California: Wildfire-related perceived exposure and negative outcomes, prior and current health, risk appraisal and worry
Energy Research & Social Science