20.500.12556/DiRROS-23000 The clock is ticking understanding the ‘mixed feelings’ about fusion energy in Europe If it can be made to work, fusion energy offers the potential for unlimited, clean energy. This prospect has seen substantial investment in the science and engineering behind fusion in order to demonstrate its viability. As key societal stakeholders, the opinions and actions of publics can shape the success of emerging energy technologies. To date, however, there have been relatively few studies focused on the public acceptability of fusion. The current study provides insight into public perspectives about fusion in five European countries (Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia and Spain). Using a qualitative ‘World Caf´ e’ type method, participants (n =10–25 per country) were provided with basic and balanced information about fusion, before being invited to discuss the risks, benefits and drawbacks of the technology and investment in its development. Transcripts from each World Caf´ e were subject to template analysis. The results indicated that while awareness of fusion was low in each country, participants were broadly supportive of fusion. This support was, however, tentative due to its commercially unproven nature. This stimulated questions about the value of investment in the technology, particularly given the urgency of addressing climate change. While there was some variation in the sub-topics raised and discussed in each country, the principal themes raised were broadly comparable. These findings add to our systematic understanding of the ‘mixed feelings’ held about fusion and have implications for future public engagement and communication efforts relating to the technology. fusion energy attitudes public acceptance social acceptance World Café fuzijska energija odnos sprejemanje v javnosti sprejemanje v družbi svetovna kavarna true false true Elsevier Ltd. Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik © 2024 The Authors Neznano 2025-07-15 12:32:52 2025-07-15 12:32:52 2025-10-24 03:52:55 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2024 0 0 str. 1-17 Vol. 113 Jul. 2024 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 2024-04-25 621.039:620.9 2214-6296 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103538 194101251 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629624001294 1 121b3531-6167-11f0-9bb7-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=33647 RAZ_Jones_Christopher_R._2024.pdf RAZ_Jones_Christopher_R._2024.pdf 1 9B3FCEA60A55891354DBCCBF2F4E9660 b8476b12cef10853184bdd70183c40bb1f60c105476a278b65c788572ffad487 596d27ad-616a-11f0-9bb7-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=33650 Rudolfovo – Znanstveno in tehnološko središče Novo mesto 0 0 0