Factors and framing effects in support for net zero policies in the United Kingdom

Wouter Poortinga; Lorraine Whitmarsh; Katharine Steentjes; Emily Gray; Sophie Thompson; Rachel Brisley

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1287188

Factors and framing effects in support for net zero policies in the United Kingdom

Wouter Poortinga, Lorraine Whitmarsh, Katharine Steentjes, Emily Gray, Sophie Thompson, Rachel Brisley

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Achieving ambitious carbon reduction targets requires transformative change to society, with behaviour change playing an important role. Climate change mitigation (‘net zero’) policies are needed to accelerate and support such behaviour change. This study examined factors and framing effects in public support for net zero policies in the United Kingdom (UK), making use of a large probability sample (n_total = 5,665) survey conducted in August 2021. It found that net zero policies are widely supported, with only taxes on red meat and dairy products being supported by less than half of the UK public. Climate worry and perceived fairness were the strongest and most consistent predictors of policy support for net zero policies. The results further suggest that support for net zero policies can be increased by emphasising the co-benefits of the policies, in particular where they are beneficial for health. However, the framing effects were very small. In contrast, public support for net zero policies is lower when potential lifestyle and financial costs are mentioned. This suggests that perceived fairness of the distribution of costs and lifestyle implications of policies are crucial for building and maintaining support for net zero.

Original language	English
Article number	1287188
Journal	Frontiers in Psychology
Volume	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1287188
Publication status	Published - 15 Dec 2023

Bibliographical note

Data availability statement: The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Poortinga, Whitmarsh, Steentjes, Gray, Thompson and Brisley.

Funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. We acknowledge support from the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) through the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST), Grant Ref: ES/S012257/1. The research was conducted as part of the Ipsos-CAST Climate Engagement Partnership. The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. We acknowledge support from the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) through the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST), Grant Ref: ES/S012257/1. The research was conducted as part of the Ipsos-CAST Climate Engagement Partnership.

Funders	Funder number
Ipsos-CAST Climate Engagement Partnership
Economic and Social Research Council	ES/S012257/1

Keywords

climate change
framing effects
net zero
perceived fairness
policy support

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Psychology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1287188Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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abstract = "Achieving ambitious carbon reduction targets requires transformative change to society, with behaviour change playing an important role. Climate change mitigation ({\textquoteleft}net zero{\textquoteright}) policies are needed to accelerate and support such behaviour change. This study examined factors and framing effects in public support for net zero policies in the United Kingdom (UK), making use of a large probability sample (ntotal = 5,665) survey conducted in August 2021. It found that net zero policies are widely supported, with only taxes on red meat and dairy products being supported by less than half of the UK public. Climate worry and perceived fairness were the strongest and most consistent predictors of policy support for net zero policies. The results further suggest that support for net zero policies can be increased by emphasising the co-benefits of the policies, in particular where they are beneficial for health. However, the framing effects were very small. In contrast, public support for net zero policies is lower when potential lifestyle and financial costs are mentioned. This suggests that perceived fairness of the distribution of costs and lifestyle implications of policies are crucial for building and maintaining support for net zero.",

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Factors and framing effects in support for net zero policies in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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