What is it about?
Around the world, most people are aware of that humans are changing the climate, and at least somewhat concerned about it. What they think should be done about the problem, however, is less clear. This paper reviews what we know about public attitudes towards a variety of different climate policies, and also points out areas in which more research is needed.
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Why is it important?
Climate change is a huge problem requiring major government action. Policymakers need to decide how they will confront climate change, and the choices they make will reflect what policies ordinary people support or oppose. For example, carbon taxes tend to be relatively unpopular, even though a lot of policy experts endorse them. But surprisingly few studies have looked at other policies, including some that are likely going to be quite important and/or that are already on the table in some countries. Also, very few studies have considered the views of people in lower-income and/or non-Western nations. So we need to know much more.
Perspectives
Considering the importance of the problem, and fact that it's fundamentally a social problem, there still isn't that much social science focusing on climate change. It's surprising how little we know about some things, like people's views on what their governments should be doing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Malcolm Fairbrother
Umeå University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Public opinion about climate policies: A review and call for more studies of what people want, PLOS Climate, May 2022, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000030.
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