Social Stratification, Welfare, and Social Policy Seminar, at the Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI):

Malcolm Fairbrother from Umeå University presents "How Do Europeans Think We Should Stop Climate Change? Costs, Trust, and Public Support for Future Policies".

This is an in-person only event.

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Abstract

Surveys show that most Europeans, like people elsewhere around the world, are concerned about climate change and want their governments to address it. But how? What policy actions are more or less popular, and among which kinds of people? We know little about public attitudes towards many environmental policies that are likely to prove vital but also controversial in the years to come. These include carbon tariffs; support for workers leaving polluting industries; the phase-out of fossil fuel-powered cars; the protection of nature areas; and the construction of new nuclear power plants. This talk will present the results of recent surveys in several (mostly European) countries, capturing people's views of these and other policies, and exploring some reasons behind those views. In particular, I will review research showing how people's support for many climate and environmental policies reflects their trust in their country's political and administrative leaders and systems.