Do Net‐Zero Targets Embedded in ( EU ) Legislation Increase Public Support for Climate Policies?

Abstract

Over 90 countries have committed to reaching net‐zero greenhouse gas emissions by a specific year, and many include this commitment in legislation. Often, public authorities make these commitments before implementing a set of climate change mitigation policies aimed at meeting these commitments. This is the first study through a survey experiment on whether a legally binding net‐zero commitment affects public support for climate policies compared to a non‐legally binding one. We also analyse whether this effect varies depending on whether the commitment is made at the EU or national level. The survey experiment is carried out in France and Hungary, and we find no evidence that embedding a net‐zero target in law increases public support compared to setting it solely in policy. Adopting a net‐zero target in legislation and then rolling out climate policies may not provide advantages in terms of public acceptability compared to less politically onerous policy announcements.