How Carbon Dependency and Social Capital Affect Public Attitudes toward Climate Change in 22 European Countries

• In Event: 2251 - Section on Environmental Sociology Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 6. Environmental Attitudes and Perceptions 2

Abstract

Climate change is the one of the most challenging issues facing the world today. As the third largest emitter of Carbon Dioxide, Europe plays an important role in combating climate change through various strategies and policies. One critical factor in shaping climate policies is public attitude toward climate change. In this study, we examine climate change attitudes among citizens in 22 European countries by analyzing the 2016 wave of European Social Survey along with corresponding country-level data. We contribute to the literature by examining the impacts of carbon dependency and social capital on citizens’ attitudes, which are understudied in current research. Bivariate correlation and multilevel regression are used for analyses. Findings show that people from countries with higher dependency on carbon-based industry tend to have lower climate change attitudes. In addition, trust and social network have positive associations with the attitudes about climate change and climate change response. The findings have policy implications relevant for promoting favourable attitudes regarding climate change by expanding low-carbon industries and fostering social capital among citizens.

Authors

• Feng Hao, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee

• Xinsheng Liu, Texas A&M University

• Jay L. Michaels, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee