Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This paper explores global perceptions and understanding of climate change and policies, examining factors that influence support for climate action and the impact of different types of information. We conduct large-scale surveys with 40,000 respondents from 20 countries, providing new international data on attitudes toward climate change and respondents’ socioeconomic backgrounds and lifestyles. We identify three key perceptions affecting policy support: perceived effectiveness of policies in reducing emissions, their impact on low-income households, and their effect on respondents’ households (self-interest). Educational videos clarifying policy mechanisms increase support for climate policies; those merely highlighting climate change’s impacts do not. (JEL C83, D83, D91, Q54, Q58)
Source: American Economic Review
DOI: 10.1257/aer.20230501
Institutions: Organisation de Coopération et de Développement Economiques, London School of Economics and Political Science, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CIRED, Analysis Group (United States), Center for Economic and Policy Research, National Bureau of Economic Research, Harvard University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4408999048
