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Sociology Department Uppsala University @uusociologydep.bsky.social · 1d

We’re happy to share new research co-authored by one of our colleagues: How do Europeans want to fight climate change?
Comparing and explaining public support for a wide variety of policies. By @mfair.bsky.social and @joakimkulin.bsky.social, and Ingemar Johansson 🔗 doi.org/10.1017/S014...

How do Europeans want to fight climate change? Comparing and explaining public support for a wide variety of policies | Journal of Public Policy | Cambridge Core

How do Europeans want to fight climate change? Comparing and explaining public support for a wide variety of policies

www.cambridge.org

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Malcolm Fairbrother @mfair.bsky.social · 12d

People with more trust are more accepting of costly policies, and it seems political trust makes people more confident that costs will be compensated by benefits. Because most people are distrusting, however, costly policies are unpopular--even policies experts recommend, like taxes.
(4/n)

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Malcolm Fairbrother @mfair.bsky.social · 12d

In this new paper, we present one of the largest ever studies of public support for different climate policies--16 policies, 6000+ respondents in four countries (DE ES PL SE), and a survey experiment that makes a big contribution to our understanding of why people prefer the policies they do.
(1/n)

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Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · 12d

In a new @jpublicpolicy.bsky.social study, with @mfair.bsky.social and Johansson Sevä, we show that support for a wide range of climate policies varies considerably, and that people with low political trust are the most sensitive to policy costs, thus helping to explain opposition to carbon taxes.

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Cambridge University Press Political Science & IR @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org · 13d

#OpenAccess from @jpublicpolicy.bsky.social -

How do Europeans want to fight climate change? Comparing and explaining public support for a wide variety of policies - cup.org/3W89P1g

- @mfair.bsky.social, Ingemar Johansson Sevä & @joakimkulin.bsky.social

#FirstView

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Journal of Public Policy @jpublicpolicy.bsky.social · 13d

An interesting article by @mfair.bsky.social, Ingemar Johansson Sevä and @joakimkulin.bsky.social is now available on our FirstView page. It is entitled "How do Europeans want to fight climate change? Comparing and explaining public support for a wide variety of policies”.
Enjoy it here: t.ly/ZWy5u

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Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · Aug 29

Yeah, so this paper focused exclusively on whataboutism, but hopefully soon I will be able to provide an answer from a published study. :)

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Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · Aug 29

Glad you found it interesting!

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The Guardian @theguardian.com · Aug 28

Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low likelihood, study finds

Scientists say ‘shocking’ discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic fallout The collapse of a critical Atlantic current can no longer be considered a low-likelihood event, a study has concluded, making deep cuts to fossil fuel emissions even more urgent to avoid the catastrophic impact. The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc) is a major part of the global climate system. It brings sun-warmed tropical water to Europe and the Arctic, where it cools and sinks to form a deep return current. The Amoc was already known to be at its weakest in 1,600 years as a result of the climate crisis. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Environmental Politics @environmentalpol.bsky.social · Aug 27

Climate whataboutism and rightwing populism: how emissions blame-shifting translates nationalist attitudes into climate policy opposition by Joakim Kulin
Pages: 979-999
doi.org/10.1080/0964...

Climate whataboutism and rightwing populism: how emissions blame-shifting translates nationalist attitudes into climate policy opposition

In the evolving discourse on climate change, the phenomenon of ‘whataboutism’ has emerged as a pervasive rhetorical strategy to deflect responsibility for the emissions of one’s own country by shif...

doi.org

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Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · Aug 29

You might find this @environmentalpol.bsky.social study interesting, focusing on public opinion on the linkage between climate whataboutism and nationalism. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Climate whataboutism and rightwing populism: how emissions blame-shifting translates nationalist attitudes into climate policy opposition

In the evolving discourse on climate change, the phenomenon of ‘whataboutism’ has emerged as a pervasive rhetorical strategy to deflect responsibility for the emissions of one’s own country by shif...

www.tandfonline.com

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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · Aug 27

FUCK YEAH SCIENCE

arstechnica.com/science/2025...

Bluesky now platform of choice for science community

It’s not just you. Survey says: “Twitter sucks now and all the cool kids are moving to Bluesky”…

arstechnica.com

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Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · Aug 25

Happy to see this study published in @environmentalpol.bsky.social Vol 34, Issue 6. In it, I show how rightwing populists, especially those holding nationalist attitudes, consistently employ climate delay discourses (here whataboutism) to justify climate inaction. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Climate whataboutism and rightwing populism: how emissions blame-shifting translates nationalist attitudes into climate policy opposition

In the evolving discourse on climate change, the phenomenon of ‘whataboutism’ has emerged as a pervasive rhetorical strategy to deflect responsibility for the emissions of one’s own country by shif...

www.tandfonline.com

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Cas Ⓜ️udde @casmudde.bsky.social · Aug 19

This resonates strongly…

(As it says “scientists”, economists are excluded 😉).

Scientists no Longer Find Twitter Professionally Useful, and have Switched to Bluesky

Synopsis. Social media has become widely used by the scientific community for a variety of professional uses, including networking and public outreach. For

academic.oup.com

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John Schwartz @jswatz.bsky.social · Aug 16

Nice hed, NYT. And this: "Even in the annals of Mr. Trump’s erratic presidency, the Anchorage meeting with Mr. Putin now stands out as a reversal of historic proportions." @peterbakernyt.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/08/16/u...

Trump Bows to Putin’s Approach on Ukraine: No Cease-Fire, Deadlines or Sanctions

www.nytimes.com

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The New Republic @newrepublic.com · Aug 16

It doesn't matter whether conservative ideals and policies are good or bad, popular or unpopular, if they are imposed on Americans unlawfully and arbitrarily. A free society is ruled by law.

Given Trump’s lawlessness, we no longer have a legitimate government.
trib.al/UdMH6uD

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Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · Aug 15

No, scientists (and research more broadly, incl. funding) focusing more on how bad it is getting (mainly physical sciences) rather than how we stop it (mainly social sciences).

Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · Aug 14

We all know it will get (really) bad.

Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · Aug 14

I guess I am not primarily thinking about ”social movements” (sorry for the particular wording) but rather scientists aiming to move reality. If that makes sense.

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Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · May 1

Former UK Prime Minister use his megaphone to promote climate delay through whataboutism (redirecting responsibility by blaming others for climate change). If you find this retorical strategy interesting, you might like this @environmentalpol.bsky.social study: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

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Ryan Katz-Rosene, PhD @ryankatzrosene.bsky.social · Apr 19

BREAKING! Country that emits 1.4% of global GHG emissions would only contribute about 1.4% of global temperature stabilization efforts under Net Zero scenario! 🙄

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Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · Apr 19

Lomborg has made outstanding claims before, but this is one of (if not the) most rediculous one(s) so far. And this rhetorical strategy, blaming other nations to redirect responsibility (whataboutism), undermine climate action and is often driven by nationalism. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

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Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · Mar 23

”The latest deadline for countries to submit plans for slashing the greenhouse gas emissions fuelling climate change has passed. Only 15 countries met it – less than 8% of the 194 parties currently signed up…” theconversation.com/only-15-coun...

Only 15 countries have met the latest Paris agreement deadline. Is any nation serious about tackling climate change?

The low submission rate undermines the global commitment to climate action.

theconversation.com

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Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · Mar 21

Haha ok.

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Joakim Kulin @joakimkulin.bsky.social · Mar 21

Yes, I now agree that metric is inflated. However, I am not trying to make a purely scientific point but rather shift the perspective. Knowing some public opinion research on the topic, the target audience does not like/want carbon taxes (internalize the costs), and this needs to change.

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