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TERRA ECONOMICUS

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  • Collective action in climate policy implementation: The role of citizens

Collective action in climate policy implementation: The role of citizens


TERRA ECONOMICUS, , Vol. 22 (no. 1),

We assess the role of citizens in global climate policy using empirical data from a range of sociological studies. The scale of the environment challenge, with climate change issues as its essential part, usually implies that countries and organizations are treated as the key actors whose influence on climate regulation is significant. Meanwhile, in recent years, scholars and experts pay increasing attention to citizen behavior change. On the personal level, behavior change goals may involve the measures for reducing carbon footprint, as well as pressure on policymakers to encourage climate regulations. The purpose of this article is to assess the current role of citizens (their awareness, attitudes to climate change, and willingness to act) in global climate policy. Our theoretical framework is the theory of collective action and its modifications. We highlight the peculiarities of collective action to counteract climate change, as well as complementary approaches which represent the solution of the “social dilemma” regarding environmental protection from different perspectives. Approaches to citizen engagement in climate change adaptation may vary (instrumental, polycentric, ethical). We found that currently the instrumental approach is being implemented. Our results show that currently citizens’ readiness for collective action on climate change issues is not high. We also found a wide variance across countries and their groups in terms of citizen engagement, and a rather intensive application of behavioral economics tools. We conclude that the role of citizens’ collective action in climate policy implementation addresses such underlying concerns as ethical responsibility towards environmental sustainability and public attention to environmental issues on different levels of the economy.
Citation: Kurbatova M.V., Donova I.V. (2024). Collective action in climate policy implementation: The role of citizens. Terra Economicus 22(1), 62–80 (in Russian). DOI: 10.18522/2073-6606-2024-22-1-62-80
Acknowledgment: The study was funded by the State Assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (FSRZ-2024-0003).


Keywords: climate policy; environmental issues; social dilemma; collective action; interest groups; polycentric approach; environmental ethics

JEL codes: Q54; А13

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Publisher: Southern Federal University
Founder: Southern Federal University
ISSN: 2073-6606