Scientists are increasingly convinced that climate change is a problem that will have serious consequences for both the environment and mankind. Therefore, to deal with the climate change, cooperation between countries is needed (e.g. concerning energy or waste management). Achieving cooperation is, however, very difficult and costly, as there are many different conflicting views on climate change.

 

These differences in viewpoints are the result of differences between the citizens of different countries and regions in terms of values, i.e. what they consider important and right (ideological issues), but also socio-economic differences (labor market, wealth, etc.). In particular, it is pointed out that the impact of structural change on attitudes towards climate policy is not direct, but is mediated by ideology.

 

The POPCLIM project aims to study the determinants of attitudes toward climate policies. Many people are opposed to the actions against climate change by states, but the exact causes and nature of opposition to climate policy are not known.

 

The aim of the study is to find out about them by answering 4 main questions: 

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1. Is the opposition to climate policies due to economic or ideological reasons?

2. Do the reasons for opposition to climate policies in Central and Eastern European countries differ from those in Western Europe?

3. Are there significant differences between Poland and Hungary, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in terms of the reasons for their opposition to counteracting climate change?

4. Is the way the state counteracts climate change in Poland and Hungary in the period 2000-2020 a result of what the public wants, or the public opinion has changed under the influence of these countries' actions.

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To get answers to the above questions, the POPCLIM project will conduct two types of studies.

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In the quantitative part we will use international public opinion surveys (e.g. on values) from 2000-2020 to see how prevailing values and socioeconomic circumstances in each society affect perceptions of climate change and climate policies.

 

In the qualitative part we will analyze documents from this period (e.g. acts or strategies) describing actions against climate change in Poland and Hungary and interview experts (politicians, officials, scientists) who worked on the creation of these documents and implementation of their provisions.

 

Knowing the causes and nature of opposition to counteracting climate change by countries can be used to avoid similar opposition in the future. In this way, future actions can be more effective and achieved with significantly less work and financial resources.