Public support for decarbonization policies in the UK: exploring regional variations and policy instruments
Bretter, Christian and Schulz, Felix LU
(2023)
In Climate Policy
24(1).
p.117-137
- Abstract
- Decarbonization policies require public support to be implemented and to remain in legislation. Examinations of public support for climate policies tend to focus on a
small number of policy instruments and/or use hypothetical instead of real policy proposals. Here, we address these criticisms by examining public support across
four distinct policy instruments– command-and-control, market-based, information-based, and voluntary– using sixteen policy proposals by UK political
parties and government institutions. In addition to assessing UK national policy
support, we also explore regional di erences. Using a representative sample of the UK population (N = 1,911), we nd that, at a national level, individuals... (More) - Decarbonization policies require public support to be implemented and to remain in legislation. Examinations of public support for climate policies tend to focus on a
small number of policy instruments and/or use hypothetical instead of real policy proposals. Here, we address these criticisms by examining public support across
four distinct policy instruments– command-and-control, market-based, information-based, and voluntary– using sixteen policy proposals by UK political
parties and government institutions. In addition to assessing UK national policy
support, we also explore regional di erences. Using a representative sample of the UK population (N = 1,911), we nd that, at a national level, individuals preferred
instruments shown to be less e ective in reaching net-zero: information-based and voluntary policies. Our results indicate that the extent to which individuals believe in the free market, their environmental worldviews and political party support as
well as their age are all correlated with policy support. We nd stark regional di erences where, compared to individuals living in Greater London, those living in
the remainder of the country were 32% and 30% less likely to support command- and-control and market-based policies, respectively (among other regional
differences). Regional variations in free-market beliefs and population density partly explain di erences in policy support. We propose policymakers focus on place-based initiatives to increase support for decarbonization policies that are
more e ective in reaching net-zero and on improving the perception of market- based and command-and-control policies through positive framing and policy bundles. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/7d6fa818-5171-4332-926f-f27d378b289b
- author
- Bretter, Christian
and Schulz, Felix
LU
- publishing date
- 2023-10-29
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Climate Policy
- volume
- 24
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 117 - 137
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85175375494
- ISSN
- 1469-3062
- DOI
- 10.1080/14693062.2023.2273302
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 7d6fa818-5171-4332-926f-f27d378b289b
- date added to LUP
- 2025-01-27 16:42:02
- date last changed
- 2025-04-22 13:20:17
@article{7d6fa818-5171-4332-926f-f27d378b289b,
abstract = {{Decarbonization policies require public support to be implemented and to remain in legislation. Examinations of public support for climate policies tend to focus on a<br/>small number of policy instruments and/or use hypothetical instead of real policy proposals. Here, we address these criticisms by examining public support across<br/>four distinct policy instruments– command-and-control, market-based, information-based, and voluntary– using sixteen policy proposals by UK political<br/>parties and government institutions. In addition to assessing UK national policy<br/>support, we also explore regional di erences. Using a representative sample of the UK population (N = 1,911), we nd that, at a national level, individuals preferred<br/>instruments shown to be less e ective in reaching net-zero: information-based and voluntary policies. Our results indicate that the extent to which individuals believe in the free market, their environmental worldviews and political party support as<br/>well as their age are all correlated with policy support. We nd stark regional di erences where, compared to individuals living in Greater London, those living in<br/>the remainder of the country were 32% and 30% less likely to support command- and-control and market-based policies, respectively (among other regional<br/>differences). Regional variations in free-market beliefs and population density partly explain di erences in policy support. We propose policymakers focus on place-based initiatives to increase support for decarbonization policies that are<br/>more e ective in reaching net-zero and on improving the perception of market- based and command-and-control policies through positive framing and policy bundles.}},
author = {{Bretter, Christian and Schulz, Felix}},
issn = {{1469-3062}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{10}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{117--137}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{Climate Policy}},
title = {{Public support for decarbonization policies in the UK: exploring regional variations and policy instruments}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2023.2273302}},
doi = {{10.1080/14693062.2023.2273302}},
volume = {{24}},
year = {{2023}},
}