Environmental Policy Attitudes: Issues, Geographical Scale, and Political Trust^*

TLDR

The study investigates how environmental policy attitudes differ by issue type (pollution versus resource preservation) and geographic scale (local, national, global) and whether trust in government moderates these preferences. Using 2007 Cooperative Congressional Election Study data, the authors estimated OLS regression models to analyze public attitudes toward environmental policies. Results show greater support for pollution-related actions, especially at local and national levels, with Republicans and conservatives less supportive, while higher trust in government is associated with more favorable attitudes; political ideology consistently predicts preferences across issues.

Abstract

Objectives. This article examines environmental policy attitudes, focusing on the differences in preferences across issue type (i.e., pollution, resource preservation) and geographical scale (i.e., local, national, global). In addition, we study whether an individual's trust in government influences environmental policy attitudes. Methods. Analyzing data from the 2007 Cooperative Congressional Election Study, we estimate a series of OLS regression models to examine the public's environmental policy attitudes. Results. We find stronger public support for government action to address pollution issues than resources issues, and stronger support for local and national pollution abatement than dealing with global problems. We also find that Republicans and ideological conservatives are less likely to support further government effort to address the environment, and that more trusting individuals are more favorable to government action to address pollution and global issues. Conclusion. Environmental policy attitudes vary by the nature of the issue; however, political ideology and partisan affiliation are consistent predictors of preferences across issues, even when controlling for an individual's level of trust in government.