Give citizens a task: An innovative tool to compose policy bundles that reach the climate goal

The authors analyse the preferences of citizens with respect to climate policies in the transport sector. More specifically, the authors examine the citizens' preference for mixing different policies, the preferences for and determinants of different types of policy bundles, as well as the CO₂ reduction achieved with these bundles. To this end, the authors developed an innovative evaluation tool, in which respondents could mix 11 different policies at various intensity levels according to their preferences with the (non-binding) goal to reduce CO₂ emissions of passenger transport in Austria from currently 13.19 to 4.22 mill. tons/year. Respondents interactively received detailed information on ecological, financial and social effects of their policy selection, and could adjust their choice accordingly. The authors find that respondents display a widespread aversion against highly restrictive policies, but a preference for broad and well-balanced bundles between pull and push and also between different push policies. With these broad bundles, almost 60% of respondents met the ambitious climate goal. The authors speculate that this surprisingly high level of ambition may be driven by putting citizens into the role of a task solver (achieve the climate goal) instead of a mere choice maker of policies. The authors' analysis suggests that car affinity (strongly confounded with urban/non-urban residence), self-concern, political trust, the importance of solidarity and fairness, and (most of all) the climate concern determine the participants’ selection (or rejection) of effective policy bundles. The paper provides relevant insights for policymakers, both regarding participatory decision-making tools and acceptable policy bundles.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2023.103694
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856423001143
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09658564
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Hössinger, Reinhard
  • Peer, Stefanie
  • Juschten, Maria
• Publication Date: 2023-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 103694
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
  • Volume: 173
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0965-8564
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09658564

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Climate change adaptation; Consumer preferences; Decarbonization; Public participation; Transportation policy; Travelers
• Geographic Terms: Austria
• Subject Areas: Environment; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01890019
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 2023 8:55AM