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Cross-National Public Opinion on Climate Change: The Effects of Affluence and Vulnerability

Author

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  • So Young Kim

    (So Young Kim is an associate professor of the Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy and the undergraduate director of the Science and Technology Policy Program at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).)

  • Yael Wolinsky-Nahmias

    (Yael Wolinsky-Nahmias is an associate professor of the practice in environmental studies and political science at the University of Southern California.)

Abstract

Climate change has emerged as one of the most important issues of the twenty-first century. Recent opinion polls show rising public awareness of climate change. Yet considerable cross-national variation exists in the intensity of public concern and in public willingness to pay for addressing climate change. Drawing on twelve multinational surveys, we examine two aggregate conditions—a country's affluence and its vulnerability to climate risks—as key factors underlying cross-national differences in public support for and commitment to costly climate policies. In contrast to the post-materialism thesis, we find “strong” concern about climate change to be higher in developing countries. Contrary to expectation, climate vulnerability had little effect on public concern, but did have significant impact on some measures of personal commitment and support for climate policies. The analysis indicates that, in most countries examined, high concern about climate change is only beginning to translate into personal commitment to action. © 2014 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Suggested Citation

  • So Young Kim & Yael Wolinsky-Nahmias, 2014. "Cross-National Public Opinion on Climate Change: The Effects of Affluence and Vulnerability," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 14(1), pages 79-106, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:glenvp:v:14:y:2014:i:1:p:79-106
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    Keywords

    climate change;

    JEL classification:

    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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