eCite Digital Repository
The influence of political leaders on climate change attitudes
Citation
Kousser, T and Tranter, B, The influence of political leaders on climate change attitudes, Global Environmental Change, 50 pp. 100-109. ISSN 0959-3780 (2018) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2018 Elsevier Ltd.
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.03.005
Abstract
Is public opinion on global climate change stable, with voters holding deeply rooted attitudes that guide them to consistent policy positions? Or is public opinion malleable, with voters adjusting their environmental positions when they learn about the positions of political leaders? To explore whether leaders can influence mass opinion on climate change, we conduct a pair of survey experiments in Australia. Emissions trading plans and renewable energy targets have been central issues in Australian politics over the last decade, with the members of the major parties deeply polarized on these issues. Our experiments reveal that survey respondents take different positions on climate change policy when they learn what positions leaders hold. When respondents learn that leaders take divergent positions on addressing climate change, they become more polarized along party lines. But when leaders converge on a policy proposal, they also bring those who follow them into closer agreement, providing evidence that partisan polarization at the mass level can be overcome when leaders come together on environmental policies.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | climate change, political attitudes, political leaders, party identification |
Research Division: | Human Society |
Research Group: | Sociology |
Research Field: | Environmental sociology |
Objective Division: | Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards |
Objective Group: | Adaptation to climate change |
Objective Field: | Social impacts of climate change and variability |
UTAS Author: | Tranter, B (Professor Bruce Tranter) |
ID Code: | 125036 |
Year Published: | 2018 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 15 |
Deposited By: | Office of the School of Social Sciences |
Deposited On: | 2018-03-26 |
Last Modified: | 2018-12-03 |
Downloads: | 0 |
Repository Staff Only: item control page