Work

Perceived costs and benefits and public support for climate policies

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Public support for climate policies remains limited, partly due to perceived economic costs. However, using survey data from four European countries, we show that support is more strongly related to perceived benefits than costs. This suggests that public discourse has overemphasized costs. To build broader support, advocates should focus on communicating the benefits and effectiveness of climate action, rather than merely addressing concerns about economic burdens.

Source: npj Climate Action

DOI: 10.1038/s44168-025-00301-x

Authors: Aleš Kudrnáč, Malcolm Fairbrother

Institutions: Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Sociology, Uppsala University, University of Graz, Institute for Futures Studies

Language: English

Topic: Climate Change Communication and Perception

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,340