ATTITYDER TILL KLIMATAÅTGÄRDER: EN FRÅGA OM EKONOMISKA SITUATION ELLER KLIMATORO? - En komparativ studie mellan 10 av EU:s medlemsstater

Abstract

This bachelor thesis aim to clarify what factors effect citizen’s attitudes toward climate adaptations in the EU member states. Previous research shows that citizen’s economic situation and whether you are worried about climate change or not, are important factors that shapes the attitude towards climate adaptation. The impact of citizen’s economic situation can be explained by the “Rational Choice Theory”; it is more rational to have a positive attitude toward climate adaptations if your economic situation allows it. The fact that worry about the climate change has an effect on the attitude towards climate adaptation can be explained by ”Value-Belief-Norm Theory”; which says that if you feel emotionally attached to a problem you are more prone to act and solve the situation. Therefore the main focus of the bachelor thesis is to determine which factor is the most important when it comes to shaping citizen’s attitudes towards climate adaptations in 10 of the EU member states. The result shows that the relation between the worry about climate change and climate adaptations is stronger. The trend is visible in every member state examined, but there are differences between the northwest and southeast states. The result shows that the differences can be explained by the member states' different economic situations and a more sceptical approach and less concern about climate change in southeast countries.