When the Design of Climate Policy Meets Public Acceptance : An Adaptive Multiplex Network Model

The socio-political processes that influence the acceptance of climate policies play a crucial role in shaping mitigation strategies. In this paper, we explore the interplay between social and political dynamics and their impact on climate policy support. Using a simplified model of the climate-society system, we aim to uncover ways to enhance public backing for climate change mitigation measures. Several factors come into play when considering policy support, including social norms, self-efficacy, social learning, income, and participation. By examining climate mitigation policies and accounting for shifting and inherent preferences, we shed light on how individuals contribute to processes of social change. Through simulations, we find that even minimal peer pressure has a positive and significant impact on individuals’ inclination towards green behaviors, regardless of whether regressive or progressive policies are in place. Additionally, assuming uniform self-efficacy across society leads to an overestimation of society’s acceptance of green policies. Our results highlight the importance of nurturing existing skills or developing new ones, through complementary interventions. Finally, our findings reveal that regional heterogeneity matters for acceptance