The impact of Trust in Politics on Support for Fossil Fuel Taxes and Concerns Over Climate Change in Europe

Support for taxes on fossil fuels represent not only a commitment to action, but also an economic sacrifice that citizens must be willing to make. Existing literature highlights that the trust of the population in their politics is necessary to implement carbon taxes, it is a basic prerequisite for national cooperation and commitment to action to reduce climate change. On the other hand, climate anxiety or excessive worrying about climate change can be affected by a multitude of factors depending on the chosen literature. A factor that is understudied but is mentioned in articles on the matter is trust in politics. With more youths reporting feelings of betrayal regarding their government’s response to climate change, it is of interest to determine if it is a factor leading to excessive worrying in European countries. This thesis tests existing evidence of relationships, in European countries, between trust in politics and support for fossil fuel taxes or climate worry through a...Show moreSupport for taxes on fossil fuels represent not only a commitment to action, but also an economic sacrifice that citizens must be willing to make. Existing literature highlights that the trust of the population in their politics is necessary to implement carbon taxes, it is a basic prerequisite for national cooperation and commitment to action to reduce climate change. On the other hand, climate anxiety or excessive worrying about climate change can be affected by a multitude of factors depending on the chosen literature. A factor that is understudied but is mentioned in articles on the matter is trust in politics. With more youths reporting feelings of betrayal regarding their government’s response to climate change, it is of interest to determine if it is a factor leading to excessive worrying in European countries. This thesis tests existing evidence of relationships, in European countries, between trust in politics and support for fossil fuel taxes or climate worry through a bivariate and multivariate analysis of data from the ESS round 8. For the unadjusted model, a linear regression of trust in politics and support for fossils fuel taxes was conducted and shows evidence of a small and positive relationship. While the adjusted model, a multiple linear regression was then conducted with the same variables and three control variables, with similar results showing a positive relationship. A similar process was applied to test the relationship between trust in politics and climate worry, but only the linear regression provides evidence of a statistically significant, very small and positive relationship between the two. Whilst controlling for internet use frequency, gender and most efficient home appliance, no significant relationship between trust in politics and climate worry was found.Show less

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The impact of Trust in Politics on Support for Fossil Fuel Taxes and Concerns Over Climate Change in Europe