Are Climate Change Policies Politically Costly?

Are policies designed to avert climate change (Climate Change Policies, or CCPs) politically costly? Using data on governmental popular support and the OECD’s Environmental Stringency Index, we find that CCPs are not necessarily costly: policy design matters. First, only market-based (such as emission taxes) generate negative effects support. Second, muted in countries where non-green (dirty) energy is a relatively small input into production. Third, political costs significant when implemented during periods of low oil prices, generous social insurance inequality.