AN EVIDENCE BASE REVIEW OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRANSPORT BEHAVIOUR

Abstract

The overall objectives of the review were to improve the evidence base for policy decisions concerning: 1. How climate change knowledge and awareness relates to transport decision-making, attitudes and behaviours amongst the public; 2. The nature and impact of interventions aimed at altering attitudes and behaviours in relation to climate change issues; 3. The identification of research methods (including measures and data sources) pertinent to these issues. 4. The identification of evidence gaps worthy of further research. A main conclusion concerning the state of the art is the three strands of this review (i) attitudes (ii) climate change and (iii) travel behaviour have not been comprehensively examined in any consistent, robust and integrated way to warrant a comprehensive analysis of the links between them. Consequently, the review drew upon literature from environmental psychology, public understanding of science, travel behaviour research, marketing and sociology to achieve its aims. The review used a search strategy designed to capture all aspects of travel behaviour including the choice of all transport modes, car purchasing, the frequency and amount of travel and support for transport policies. Only a small amount of literature emerged in relation to attitudes to air travel and climate change. Consequently, understanding attitudes to and the demand for air travel comprises a strong recommendation for further research.