Willingness to Pay for Crowdfunding Local Agricultural Climate Solutions

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Authors’

Your paper titled “Willingness to Pay for Crowdfunding Local Agricultural Climate Solutions” is an interesting study and it is the need of the hour. The GHG contribution from agriculture is a cause of concern in the backdrop of increasing food demand. However, the agriculture sector has immense mitigation potential. The objective of the paper is to figure out the driving factors behind the public’s willingness to pay for crowdfunded, climate mitigation projects at the farm level. In this study, four mitigation options from the perspective of farmers were identified. They are solar panels on the barn roof, biogas from animal manure, drag-hose for improved manure dispersal, and biochar addition to soils. These four agricultural climate solutions, in addition to climate mitigation, have several environmental benefits (biochar application to soil environment). However, these mitigation options to be viable at the farm level need financial support. Against this backdrop, the present study aims to investigate the potentiality of crowdfunding campaigns to finance mitigation options. The conceptual model provided by the authors highlights the mitigation potential of manure management. Though the installation of solar panels has high visibility, the abatement potential is low as compared with other climate solutions. The results of the study are important from the perspective of climate finance.  48% are familiar with the concept of crowdfunding. It is interesting to know that two-thirds of the population have shown interest in crowdfunding. The second important finding is younger people, have high-income levels, agriculture-based employment and climate change believers are willing to pay more towards climate solutions. Respondents have shown interest in crowdfunding campaigns that relates to their local neighbourhood. Further, the study finds that comprehensibility, high visibility and salience have large impacts on WTP. In essence, the study finds supportive attitudes in the Norwegian population for crowdfunding climate mitigation options in local agriculture.

Best Wishes

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

I like the novel idea of crowdfunding for climate solutions. I would suggest presenting your idea in a more polished way to be able to deliver your work more clearly and succinctly. 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx