Environmental Policy Attitudes: Issues, Geographical Scale, and Political Trust^*

Abstract

Objectives. This article examines environmental policy attitudes, focusing on the differences in preferences across issue type (i.e., pollution, resource preservation) and geographical scale (i.e., local, national, global). In addition, we study whether an individual's trust in government influences environmental policy attitudes. Methods. Analyzing data from the 2007 Cooperative Congressional Election Study, we estimate a series of OLS regression models to examine the public's environmental policy attitudes. Results. We find stronger public support for government action to address pollution issues than resources issues, and stronger support for local and national pollution abatement than dealing with global problems. We also find that Republicans and ideological conservatives are less likely to support further government effort to address the environment, and that more trusting individuals are more favorable to government action to address pollution and global issues. Conclusion. Environmental policy attitudes vary by the nature of the issue; however, political ideology and partisan affiliation are consistent predictors of preferences across issues, even when controlling for an individual's level of trust in government.

When Will People Pay to Pollute? Environmental Taxes, Political Trust and Experimental Evidence from Britain

“…In testing these last two hypotheses, this study builds on prior research arguing that trust, including particularly political trust, shapes support for environmental protection (e.g., Duit 2010; Hammar and Jagers 2006;Harring 2013;Konisky, Milyo, and Richardson 2008;Lubell 2002;Meyer and Liebe 2010;Rudolph and Evans 2005). 9 Previous studies have all, however, all been based on observational data.…”

From Planning to Action: Implementation of State Climate Change Adaptation Plans

“…Visual inspection of the scatter plot in Figure 2 suggests the importance of one of those potentially confounding factors: the level of political support for a plan. Numerous scholars have explored the role partisanship plays in support for climate change policies, finding that Democratic constituencies are generally more supportive of public action on climate change (Dunlap and McCright 2008;Konisky et al 2008;Zia and Todd 2010). Scholars have also studied states' adoption of renewable portfolio standards as a way to encourage the development of low-carbon energy generation.…”

Spatial determinants of local government action on climate change: an analysis of local authorities in England

“…Furthermore, numerous studies have identified links between demographic factors and levels of support for environmental policy (Dietz et al, 1998;Elliot et al, 1997;Klineburg et al, 1998;Konisky et al, 2008;O'Connor et al, 2002;Torras and Boyce 1998;Zahran et al, 2006;Zahran et al, 2008a;Zahran et al 2008b). Willingness to absorb the cost of implementing climate change initiatives increases with successive levels of education (Dietz et al, 1998;Elliott et al, 1997;Klineburg et al, 1998;Lubell et al, 2006;O'Connor et al, 2002;Zahran et al, 2008a;Zahran et al 2008b).…”

“…Liberalism has been linked to support for environmental policy in the US (see for example Konisky et al, 2008;Zahran et al 2008a) where the dual party system makes distinguishing between liberal (Democrat) voters and people with a more conservative (Republican) political ideology relatively straight forward. The existence of multiple parties in the UK, and the fact that over 20% of English local councils are controlled by more than one party, clouds this distinction somewhat.…”

“…Liberalism has been linked to support for climate policy (Deitz et al, 1998;Elliott et al, 1997, Klineberg et al, 1998Konisky et al, 2008;Zahran et al, 2008a) Barr, 2007).…”