Alexander Gazmarian delves into the preferences of communities dependent on fossil fuel production economy and the national public regarding the design of a transition assistance program accompanying climate policy. This marks the first time that such communities have been specifically included in climate-related surveys, and that have previously been underrepresented in environmental surveys. This is particularly important considering these communities will be heavily impacted by the shift to a green economy and the potential reallocation of fossil fuel subsidies.
The survey relies on a panel of 248 people from the Appalachian (known for its significant number of fossil fuels-related communities) and 1001 Americans reached through the internet. The aim was to compare and uncover any differences between these two groups in their preferences for climate policies and the design of public assistance. The survey explored interventions such as reallocation assistance, whether policies should prioritize region or individuals, potential income support, and training programs for workers most affected by the decline in fossil fuel consumption.
Overall, the article finds that communities support climate policy if coupled with just transition assistance and suggests immediate implications for fiscal policy. Firstly, both national public and fossil fuel communities support investments in workers, such as healthcare, pension funding and compensation for lost income. Just transition assistance policies that emphasize the continuity of workers’ benefits and income (for e.g., from Germany) can build public support in the communities these policies aim to help.
Secondly, while the average citizen supports policies to help relocate fossil fuel community residents, this approach does not garner support among these communities. Relocation assistance as has sometimes been previously tried does not find much support in the affected communities, suggesting that mobility enhancing policies won’t succeed.
Finally, when people learn that coal is declining due to cheaper renewables, they become more willing to support investments in clean energy job retraining programs, a prominent but not exclusive option for labor transitions. These findings highlight the importance of policymakers and trusted stakeholders investing in efforts to disseminate quality information so communities can better coordinate their energy transition efforts.
