Policy preference for a net zero carbon economy: Results from a US national survey

Abstract

Understanding public preference is a key ingredient in the sustainable design and implementation of climate change policies. Through a nationally representative survey based in the US, this study examines the likelihood of public support for four policy options: using carbon capture and storage (CCS) subsidies, using private funds for CCS, requiring emissions reduction, and using carbon penalties. Out of 1850 survey respondents, 47% prefer reducing carbon generation, 19% favor a CCS subsidy, 17% private-led CCS, and the rest 17% prefer penalizing emissions. Regression results show that: (1) Individuals who believe CCS can address climate change are likely to favor policies that incorporate CCS technology either via subsidies or private funds, (2) Individuals who believe CCS poses a danger to the community and those who mistrust the safe operation of CCS by the private sector are likely to favor a non-CCS policy option of achieving climate change by limiting emissions, (3) Individuals that mistrust the private sector's safe operation of CCS are also likely to favor penalizing emissions and oppose a private-led CCS, (4) Individuals who believe the government will adequately regulate CCS are likely to support policies that promote CCS via government subsidies and not private means, and (5) Individual traits and demography characters influence climate policy preference. The study provides insights for designing and implementing climate policies that either incorporate or exclude the use of CCS technology in achieving net zero emission goals.