A new study published in Nature Sustainability reveals a surprising twist in the battle against climate change: policies designed to encourage sustainable lifestyles may inadvertently weaken people’s environmental values. The research, led by Katrin Schmelz, a postdoctoral fellow at the Santa Fe Institute, suggests that measures such as urban car bans could undermine support for other crucial environmental initiatives.
Schmelz, who is also an associate professor at the Technical University of Denmark, collaborated with SFI Professor Sam Bowles to survey over 3,000 Germans. Their findings indicate that even well-intentioned mandates might provoke strong negative reactions, potentially eroding the green values they aim to promote. “Policies don’t just spur a target behavior. We find that they can change people’s underlying values,” Schmelz explains.
Unintended Consequences of Climate Mandates
The study highlights a phenomenon known as the “crowding-out effect,” where people’s aversion to control diminishes their intrinsic motivation to adopt sustainable practices. For instance, mandates promoting carbon-neutral behaviors, like urban car bans, might trigger resistance even among those who voluntarily choose eco-friendly lifestyles.
“These crowding-out effects are big enough that policymakers should worry,” says Bowles.
Interestingly, the research uncovered a 52% greater negative response to climate mandates compared to COVID-19 restrictions. “We saw incredible hostility in the U.S. and other countries towards controls during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bowles notes, “and it looks like the climate case could be much worse.”
The Science Behind Effective Climate Policies
The study’s implications extend beyond the immediate findings. Schmelz and Bowles argue that while the science and technology for a low-carbon lifestyle are nearly resolved, the challenge lies in developing socially and politically viable climate policies. This development follows a meeting last April at the Santa Fe Institute, where policy experts and researchers discussed preliminary findings and strategized on designing policies that foster green values.
Despite the challenges, the study offers a glimmer of hope. Resistance to mandates decreases when policies are perceived as effective, non-intrusive, and respectful of personal freedom. Schmelz emphasizes, “People are more open to policies that they think are effective in reducing CO2 emissions and that they don’t perceive as privacy-intrusive.”
Pathways to Cultivating Green Values
The research identifies three conditions that can minimize opposition to mandates and potentially cultivate green values. Firstly, policies perceived as effective in reducing emissions are more likely to gain public support. Secondly, respecting individual privacy and freedom of choice plays a crucial role in acceptance. Lastly, providing viable alternatives, such as Germany’s robust train network, can ease resistance to certain policies, like limitations on short-haul flights.
“We found three conditions that minimize opposition to mandates and may even cultivate green values,” Schmelz states.
The findings underscore the importance of designing climate policies that align with public values and perceptions. As the world grapples with the urgent need to address climate change, understanding the social and behavioral aspects of policy implementation becomes increasingly vital.
For those interested in the detailed findings, the full paper titled “An empirically based dynamic approach to sustainable climate policy design” is available in the December 30 issue of Nature Sustainability.
