Climate Change Policy Acceptance and Public Support
Summary
The public acceptance of policies aimed at mitigating climate change influences the feasibility and implementation of measures ranging from carbon pricing to renewable energy targets. This acceptance is shaped by a combination of individual values, socio-demographic characteristics and perceptions of policy efficacy and fairness. Ideological orientation, trust in government and perceptions of responsibility are consistently strong predictors of support, while detailed beliefs about specific policy tools—such as carbon taxes or decarbonised heating—can vary across contexts. Social norms and peer networks further inform individual attitudes, amplifying or attenuating support through a ‘social circle’ effect. Understanding these drivers is critical for designing policy packages that balance ambition with public consent, thus ensuring both political viability and equitable outcomes globally.
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Climate Change Policy Acceptance and Public Support publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in climate change policy acceptance and public support across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Contingent valuation: A survey method for estimating the monetary value individuals place on non-market goods, such as environmental benefits, by asking their willingness to pay for defined outcomes.
Willingness to pay (WTP): The maximum amount an individual is prepared to spend to secure a policy outcome or benefit.
Decarbonisation: The process of reducing carbon dioxide emissions through the adoption of low-carbon energy sources and technologies.
Net zero: A state in which the amount of greenhouse gases emitted is balanced by the amount removed from the atmosphere.
References
- Public perceptions of heat decarbonisation in Great Britain: Awareness, values and the social circle effect. Energy Research & Social Science (2025).
- Individual Factors Influencing Acceptability for Environmental Policies: A Review and Research Agenda. Sustainability (2020).
- Different Countries, Common Support for Climate Change Mitigation: The Case of Germany and Poland. Climate (2021).
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