How do members of the public feel about novel ecosystem interventions? A longitudinal study of emotional responses to restoration and adaptation in the Great Barrier Reef

Climate-responsive ecosystem interventions are increasingly proposed to support coral reef futures, yet the emotional dimensions of public responses remain poorly understood. Drawing on three large-scale surveys of Australians conducted in 2018, 2022, and 2024 (n = 8460), this study examines longitudinal shifts in emotional responses to six novel restoration and adaptation strategies in the Great Barrier Reef. Across all waves, positive emotions, especially hope and confidence, remained relatively stable, while several negative emotions fluctuated over time, with renewed intensification in 2024. Demographic position was associated with emotional variation, with younger and socioeconomically vulnerable respondents expressing stronger negative responses. We argue emotions are relational forces shaped by social conditions and perceived agency rather than purely individual dispositions. The study offers a transferable empirical framework for examining emotional responses to emerging ecological interventions, highlighting the value of integrating affective insight into adaptive environmental governance and public engagement in contexts of climatic uncertainty.