The effects of risk, knowledge, and ideological beliefs on climate policy preferences

Abstract

Responding to the impacts of climate change will require communities to develop an improved understanding of the factors influencing the policy preferences of supporters and opponents of climate policy. The literature on climate politics and policy has identified risk perceptions, climate-related knowledge, and ideological beliefs on government intervention as key factors impacting the general public's support for climate policies, but two important gaps within the literature remain unaddressed. The factors impacting policy preferences have been understudied among policy actors, a critical sub-population actively involved in the policy process. In addition, the effects of these factors on policy preferences have yet to be examined simultaneously. To examine the factors impacting the policy preferences of policy actors, this article conducts an analysis of questionnaire data administered in 2011 to policy actors involved in climate and energy policy in the state of Colorado. The results indicate the policy preferences of policy actors are largely affected by risk perceptions and ideological beliefs regarding government intervention. Contrary to previous studies, climate-related knowledge was found to have minimal impact on policy preferences when examined alongside risk perceptions and ideological beliefs. These findings draw attention to the need to develop a better understanding of the risk perceptions and ideological beliefs of climate policy actors throughout the development of climate policies. This article concludes with an overview of several approaches that appear to be worthy of this task, including participatory policy analysis, community risk assessments, and stakeholder analysis.