Workshop 1 - Environmental Politics (Presented by the Law And Public Policy Section)

W101 - Workshop 1 - Environmental Politics: Climate Public Opinion and Framing

Date: Jun 3 | Time: 08:30am to 10:00am | Location:

Chair/Président/Présidente : Will Niver (Simon Fraser University)

Discussant/Commentateur/Commentatrice : Mark Purdon (Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM))

Climate Action and Political Affiliation: Framing Climate Policies to Influence Voters’ Opinion: Annabelle Olivier (Université Laval), Alexandre Gajevic Sayegh (Université Laval)
Abstract: This paper is part of a larger project that explores strategies for shaping voters’ opinion on climate policies. Research concludes that political affiliation is a determinant of citizens’ climate attitude: conservatives and right-wing voters are less inclined to support climate policies (Bergquist et al., 2022). But could political affiliation be leveraged to frame climate policies and garner public support for climate action? My research investigates this avenue by asking: How can the framing of climate policies build support towards them? I hypothesize that framing climate policies in a manner that is consistent with individuals’ political affiliation will positively influence their opinion on these policies. This paper focuses on one specific signal aligned with political affiliation: elite cues. This political signal is amongst the most influential factors of public opinion, especially in the United States (Beiser-McGrath, 2023; Carmichael & Brulle, 2017). However, little is known about elite cues’ causal effects on climate attitudes in contexts with low political identity. My paper aims to bridge this gap by analysing how elites’ position on climate policies influences their public support. I test this through a survey experiment that took place in Fall 2024 in Quebec province (n=2400). In my proposed presentation, I will go over the results and discuss their relevance for literatures on climate policy acceptance as well as on political actors' influence on public opinion, for climate issues and other issues that are not as politicized.

The Role of Individual Political Trust in Navigating Trade-offs in the Energy Transition: Jana Föcker (University of Bern), Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen (University of Bern)
Abstract: Climate change, as a major global challenge, threatens our livelihoods and democracies, ultimately requiring transformative actions. One essential transition is the decarbonization of our energy systems. However, achieving this energy transition depends significantly on individuals and their willingness to make compromises in their daily choices, such as reducing energy consumption or paying more for greener electricity. These choices involve trade-offs that force individuals to decide between competing factors. Individual choices are influenced by a variety of factors, including beliefs and values, financial capabilities, and social desirability. Drawing on literature on individual decision-making from political behavior theory and public opinion, and public choice theory, I argue that individual political trust significantly influences individuals’ willingness to compromise between conflicting options. Specifically, I hypothesize that individuals with higher levels of political trust are more likely to make compromises across various dimensions, such as being more willing to accept large-scale infrastructure projects that change the natural landscape for the deployment of renewable energy. Empirically, this study uses novel survey data from a large sample of Swiss citizens to examine individuals’ real-world decisions in the energy transition. Multivariate regression analyses will be employed to test the expected correlations. The findings will contribute to existing literature by deepening our understanding of the crucial role individual political trust plays in driving the energy transition. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of considering trust as a key factor in designing effective energy policies.