Let your choice be your voice : eliciting popular climate policy preferences from decisions with real consequences

Decommissioning of coal-fired power plants is a widely known emission abatement option, but one with a limited effect due to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). In contrast, tightening the cap in the EU ETS is a highly effective, but less known mitigation option. This article empirically analyzes whether informing individuals about the effectiveness of these abatement options increases support for more effective climate policies. The analysis is based on an online survey experiment involving actual cancellation of emission allowances and curbing the output of a coal-fired power plant. We find that preferences over abatement options are driven by their perceived effectiveness. Moreover, we provide causal evidence that voters update their preference rankings when exposed to relevant information.