A Continuing Investigation and Comparison of Chinese & American Climate Change Views II

Abstract

Climate change is one of the most important, challenging and costly issues of our time. Because of the global causes/consequences of climate change, international cooperation is essential in implementing and financing successful mitigation policy action. The willingness of citizens across nations to incur the costs of reducing GHG is an important component of achieving meaningful policy success. The United States and China are of particular interest in international climate negotiations because of their significant greenhouse gas emissions and dominant economies. Surveys were conducted in China and the U.S. in 2015 (N=7,556) and 2017 (N=7,415) to investigate their citizens’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for climate change policy action to reduce GHG emissions. In this study we employ contingent valuation analysis to estimate WTP. Our results show a significantly higher mean WTP among Chinese respondents compared to Americans in purchasing power parity terms in both 2015 and 2017. Our results also show a greater mean WTP in 2017 compared to 2015 in both countries. Regression analysis reveals similar results for 2015 and 2017; variables describing climate change acceptance, knowledge, and concern correlate with WTP for climate action in both countries. Political affiliation also influences WTP among Americans in both years. Advancing upon last year’s presentation on this topic, we are undertaking a more detailed examination into the determining factors of the increased WTP from 2015 to 2017, in both countries.