The study found that favourable economic contexts, such as a relatively high-income level and low inflation, “foster environmental concern”.
The new study by Jonas Peisker, a researcher in the IIASA Population and Just Societies Program, published in Global Environmental Change, analyses the factors that drive environmental concern among Europeans to understand how to increase support for combatting climate change.
However, rising energy prices only lowered environmental concerns up to a certain point at which environmental concerns started to rise as well, the study found. At this point, energy supply could become an issue which raises environmental concerns in itself.
The results of the study also showed that a more equal distribution of income and wealth had a positive impact on the prioritisation of environmental issues.
Other results of the study found that regions with greenhouse gas-intensive industries had lower environmental concerns among locals. While environmental factors, such as having a low-elevation coastline, also influence environmental concern, overall, the socioeconomic context proved more important, the study found.
Climate policy and environmental protection are likely to be unpopular if they are increasing income and wealth inequality, inflation and unemployment.
Commenting on the study, Peisker, said: “I wanted to offer a data-driven perspective on the determinants of environmental concern that highlights the relevance of individuals’ embeddedness in socioeconomic and environmental contexts.
“While previous research has only considered a few contextual influences at a time, this study allows for a comparison of their relative importance, including also factors that differ mostly between regions, such as inequality, income level or geographical features.”
“The results of the study emphasise that social cohesion and a just transition to carbon neutrality are key for the bottom-up support for environmental policy. Climate policy and environmental protection are likely to be unpopular if they are increasing income and wealth inequality, inflation and unemployment.
“Therefore, a way to support climate action could be to emphasise the co-benefits of environmental policy, for instance, positive employment effects of the transition to renewable energy sources.”