Public attitudes about climate policy options for aviation. Issue 81 (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kantenbacher, Joseph; Hanna, Paul; Cohen, Scott; Miller, Graham; Scarles, Caroline
• Is Part Of: Environmental science & policy. Issue 81(2018)
• Page Start: 46
• Page End: 53
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Aviation -- Emissions -- Policy support -- Public attitudes -- United Kingdom; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Sciences de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Environmental policy; Environmental sciences; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70561
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2017.12.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-9011

Abstract

Highlights: British adults were surveyed about support for climate-based aviation policies. Many proposed policies measures received positive overall support. Policies with the least negative or most positive effect on consumers rated highest. Pro-environmental beliefs and aeromobile behaviour best predicted support levels. A preference for fairness may affect support levels for aviation policies. Abstract: The current trend of increasing demand for air travel runs contrary to climate-related sustainability goals. The absence of behavioural and near-term technological solutions to aviation's environmental impacts underscores the importance of policy levers as a means of curbing carbon emissions. Where past work has used qualitative methods to sketch public opinion of environmental aviation policies, this work uses data drawn from a survey of 2066 British adults to make a quantitative assessment of the acceptability of a broad range of aviation climate policy options. The findings indicate that there is significant support across demographic groups for a large number of policies, particularly those that place financial or regulatory burdens on industry rather than on individuals directly. Support for aviation policies strengthens with pro-environmental attitudes and is weaker among people who are aeromobile. Though self-interested considerations appeared to dominate policy option preferences, concern for fairness may also shape policy acceptability. Overall, this paper provides to policymakers a quantitative evidence base of what types of policies for addressing aviation climate emissions are most publically palatable.