Exploring the factors influencing public support willingness for banning gasoline vehicle sales policy: A grounded theory approach

Abstract

Banning gasoline vehicle sales policy (BGVSP) is considered a potentially important drivers for achieving carbon peak. This study, therefore, analyzed public support for such policies from the perspective of consumers. Using a grounded-theory approach, we developed a public-support model for BGVSP, on that basis, revealed the effects of the key elements and the theoretical logic. The results revealed: 1) Individual and psychological factors are important internal motivations, while the external driving factors include contextual factors and product factors. 2) The depth of individual perception is key to filling gaps in attitudes and behavior, and it plays an important role in improving public support. 3) The external contextual factors that affect consumer support mainly include external incentives, social influences, and urban contextual variables, which also play a moderating role in the integration model. The results show that the prohibition policy is easy to bring negative emotions, thereby causing public resistance, so the design of BGVSP should be based on the understanding of individual cognition, attitude and emotions. This paper constructs a model of the motivation of public support for China's localized BGVSP, and clarifies the core influencing factors and mechanisms, which provides fresh ideas for the realization of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.