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The public demands more climate action, not less

Author

Listed:
  • Thijs Bouman

    (University of Groningen)

  • Linda Steg

    (University of Groningen)

  • Tom Dietz

    (Michigan State University)

Abstract

In this “biggest election year in history”, new governments are elected for around 50% of the world population. Election outcomes will substantially impact global climate action. Stronger governmental climate action is urgently needed, but political support for such action seems to weaken with the rise of the new right. Many new-right politicians oppose climate policy, and other politicians weaken their climate ambitions in response. However, substantial evidence shows that weakened support for governmental climate action opposes what the public wants. Across countries, demographics, and most political ideologies, majorities demand more—not less—governmental climate action. We explain in this essay why votes for new-right political parties should not be interpreted as votes against governmental climate action. Moreover, we explain why structural misperceptions of public opinion and biased political decision-making can lead politicians to oppose governmental climate actions that have strong public support. Finally, we propose ways in which political actors and policies could better represent what the public wants. These include ensuring that climate policies are designed to avoid negative impacts on other issues people also care about (e.g., job security, costs of living, trust in institutions, migration), or even improve such issues, while more actively highlighting the positive impacts of climate policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Thijs Bouman & Linda Steg & Tom Dietz, 2024. "The public demands more climate action, not less," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 177(11), pages 1-8, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:177:y:2024:i:11:d:10.1007_s10584-024-03832-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-024-03832-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Judith I. M. De Groot & Linda Steg, 2010. "Morality and Nuclear Energy: Perceptions of Risks and Benefits, Personal Norms, and Willingness to Take Action Related to Nuclear Energy," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(9), pages 1363-1373, September.
    2. Adrien Fabre & Thomas Douenne & Linus Mattauch, 2023. "International Attitudes Toward Global Policies," Working Papers 2023.08, FAERE - French Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.
    3. Holly Caggiano & Sara M. Constantino & Chris Greig & Elke U. Weber, 2024. "Public and local policymaker preferences for large-scale energy project characteristics," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 9(10), pages 1230-1240, October.
    4. Gregg Sparkman & Nathan Geiger & Elke U. Weber, 2022. "Americans experience a false social reality by underestimating popular climate policy support by nearly half," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Mildenberger, Matto & Tingley, Dustin, 2019. "Beliefs about Climate Beliefs: The Importance of Second-Order Opinions for Climate Politics," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 49(4), pages 1279-1307, October.
    6. Matthew G. Burgess & Leaf Boven & Gernot Wagner & Gabrielle Wong-Parodi & Kyri Baker & Maxwell Boykoff & Benjamin A. Converse & Lisa Dilling & Jonathan M. Gilligan & Yoel Inbar & Ezra Markowitz & Jona, 2024. "Supply, demand and polarization challenges facing US climate policies," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 14(2), pages 134-142, February.
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