4.5 Results for a TROPOS Multi-use Platform in Taiwan
4.5.1 Social Acceptance
A key finding from data collection was a general lack of awareness about the
proposed offshore platform project. The high degree of unawareness, particularly
among the local population and tourists, may indicate poor project public relations
activities and points to the need to improve local stakeholder involvement in the
project planning. Awareness raising can help gain support and legitimise the project,
to address potential concerns and to embed the project in the local context.
Despite the relative unawareness of the project,
4 the data indicate that the
majority of participants initially support such a project, or they stated that they had
not formed an opinion yet. 40% of residents and 73% of tourists choose more likely
to support the project when being confronted with the proposal of the Green & Blue
concept.
Despite the general acceptance of such a project, a number of concerns were
raised. These concerns were predominantly related to environmental impacts and
unclear effects on local fishing and fish processing industries. Key concerns seem to
be based on the concept and use of the platform, which overlaps with and may thus
destabilise existing industries. Other issues that challenge the acceptance of the
Table 4.5 Variables explanation and values used in the social cost and benefit analysis
Variable
Unit
Value for
each
variable
Source
B t
Market benefit
GDP impact
(OPEX
aquaculture +
leisure + energy)
Million
$NT
1403
TROPOS
(2014)
Environmental
benefit/non-market
benefit
Aquaculture
+leisure + energy
Million
$NT
618.25
Choice
experiment
estimates
C t
OPEX (aquaculture +leisure +
energy)
Million
$NT
3192
TROPOS
(2014)
R
Interest rate
0.04
T
Project life span
Year
20
I
CAPEX
Aquaculture + leisure + energy
Million
$NT
7724
TROPOS
(2014)
GDP impact GDP impact of
CAPEX
Aquaculture + leisure + energy
Million
$NT
2743
TROPOS
(2014)
4 The general awareness of the project among stakeholders may be explained by the fact that the
project is still at a hypothetical research phase, not at the planning phase.
4 Social Acceptance and Socio-economic Effects of Multi-use Offshore. . .
73
4.5.1 Social Acceptance
A key finding from data collection was a general lack of awareness about the
proposed offshore platform project. The high degree of unawareness, particularly
among the local population and tourists, may indicate poor project public relations
activities and points to the need to improve local stakeholder involvement in the
project planning. Awareness raising can help gain support and legitimise the project,
to address potential concerns and to embed the project in the local context.
Despite the relative unawareness of the project,
4 the data indicate that the
majority of participants initially support such a project, or they stated that they had
not formed an opinion yet. 40% of residents and 73% of tourists choose more likely
to support the project when being confronted with the proposal of the Green & Blue
concept.
Despite the general acceptance of such a project, a number of concerns were
raised. These concerns were predominantly related to environmental impacts and
unclear effects on local fishing and fish processing industries. Key concerns seem to
be based on the concept and use of the platform, which overlaps with and may thus
destabilise existing industries. Other issues that challenge the acceptance of the
Table 4.5 Variables explanation and values used in the social cost and benefit analysis
Variable
Unit
Value for
each
variable
Source
B t
Market benefit
GDP impact
(OPEX
aquaculture +
leisure + energy)
Million
$NT
1403
TROPOS
(2014)
Environmental
benefit/non-market
benefit
Aquaculture
+leisure + energy
Million
$NT
618.25
Choice
experiment
estimates
C t
OPEX (aquaculture +leisure +
energy)
Million
$NT
3192
TROPOS
(2014)
R
Interest rate
0.04
T
Project life span
Year
20
I
CAPEX
Aquaculture + leisure + energy
Million
$NT
7724
TROPOS
(2014)
GDP impact GDP impact of
CAPEX
Aquaculture + leisure + energy
Million
$NT
2743
TROPOS
(2014)
4 The general awareness of the project among stakeholders may be explained by the fact that the
project is still at a hypothetical research phase, not at the planning phase.
4 Social Acceptance and Socio-economic Effects of Multi-use Offshore. . .
73