Seeking common ground? Heterogeneous support for carbon pricing and climate policies across audience segments

Abstract

Public resistance remains a significant barrier to implementing the ambitious climate policies that are needed to limit global warming below 2 degrees. While numerous studies have explored public support for climate policies in general, this paper advances the understanding by investigating whether (lack of) support towards carbon pricing and climate policies is concentrated among specific societal groups. A latent class analysis identifies five distinct audience segments in Belgium based on similar climate attitudes and behavioural intentions: the Alarmed (6.9 %), Concerned (38.3 %), Cautious (36.1 %), Disengaged (15.2 %), and Doubtful (3.6 %), and explores the characteristics of these segments. This research also highlights the heterogeneity in preferences across subgroups and shows that belonging to one segment strongly predicts support for climate policies. The Alarmed are most in favour of these policies, while the Doubtful show the least support. More importantly, this study provides novel insights into the acceptability of carbon pricing policies across these subgroups and reveals how revenue use can make carbon pricing acceptable to segments with more sceptical climate attitudes. More specifically, while environmental earmarking risks resulting in “preaching to the converted”, using revenues for non-climate policies such as reducing labour taxes could make carbon pricing acceptable among the Doubtful and Disengaged segments and lessen the risk of social unrest and contestation. More generally, this research shows that considering the heterogeneity of public preferences offers novel insights, and could ultimately help policymakers design and implement more effective carbon pricing and climate policies.