The importance of political trust in environment and climate policy initiatives

A lack of public trust in political messages has often hindered the implementation of effective environmental policy instruments.

Many experts argue that one of the most effective strategies that countries can use to combat climate change is to oblige those who pollute to pay for their emissions, via green taxes and charges, such as taxes on fossil fuels. But the public has often shown itself to be averse to instruments of environmental policy, particularly when it comes to taxes. One of the main reasons for this public resentment is that people do not trust politicians, public officials and government institutions.

The researchers want to examine the type of political trust that is most important if people are to support taxes and other means of putting a price on pollution.

Among other things, they will be studying the relative importance of trust in politicians who draft laws and policies, compared with trust in the public officials who implement those laws and policies. They will also be studying whether the lack of trust is primarily due to distrust of the intentions and integrity of various players, or of their competence. A study will also be made of the extent to which the relationship between political distrust and attitudes to green taxes reflects more general attitudes to taxes or to other environmental policies.

The researchers will also be examining how political trust influences the extent to which those who believe in climate change and are worried about its consequences will also support environmental and climate policy initiatives. Comparisons will be made between a number of countries.