Who supports which low-carbon transport policies? Characterizing heterogeneity among Canadian citizens

Abstract

Citizen support is considered important for successful climate policy to be implemented. We examine how support varies by policy type and citizen characteristics, focusing on nine climate policies relating to transport, including carbon taxes, financial and non-financial incentives for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), and regulations (for fuels, vehicle emissions, and ZEVs). Citizen response to each policy was collected via a representative sample of Canadian citizens (n = 1552) in a 2019 survey. Support is high for vehicles emissions and low-carbon fuel standards, ZEV subsidies, investment in public charging infrastructure, and education campaigns (64%–77% support). Support is lower for carbon taxes (27%–42%), HOV lane access for ZEVs (49%), and ZEV mandates (48%–57%). Exploratory factor analysis indicates that the nine policies correlate into five policy types: “supply-focused regulations” (vehicle emissions and low-carbon fuel standards), “demand-focused initiatives” (ZEV subsidies, charger deployment, and education campaigns), carbon tax, HOV lane access for ZEVs, and ZEV mandate. Cluster analysis then identifies three groups of respondents, those who are: 1) “Universally Supportive” of the policies (34% of sample), 2) “Supportive Except Carbon Tax” (34%), and 3) “Mostly Opposing” (33%). Citizens in these clusters statistically differ in terms of values, environmental concern, age, education, and region.