Public Opinion and the Energy Transition in East Asia: The Case of Taiwan

Bruno Di Giusto, Joseph Lavallee (), Igor Žilák and Yvonne Hu Di Giusto
Additional contact information
Bruno Di Giusto: Journalism and Mass Communication Program, Ming Chuan University International College, Taipei 111, Taiwan
Joseph Lavallee: International Business and Trade Program, Ming Chuan University International College, Taipei 111, Taiwan
Igor Žilák: International Business and Trade Program, Ming Chuan University International College, Taipei 111, Taiwan
Yvonne Hu Di Giusto: School of Education and Applied Languages, Ming Chuan University, Taipei 111, Taiwan

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-20

Abstract: Previous research in Western nations has established a clear connection between pro-environmental public opinion and clean energy transition policies aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13. However, little is known about this relationship in East Asia, the most important region of the world in terms of carbon emissions. Using the International Social Survey Program and Taiwan Social Change Survey results from 2010 and 2020, this study examines public opinion in Taiwan on environmental issues, comparing it with opinion in a group of 18 OECD countries. Results show high but stable support for the environment and the energy transition in Taiwan over this period, with no indications of climate denial. However, willingness to make sacrifices for the environment is sharply lower among the lower half of the income distribution, highlighting existing socioeconomic disparities and inequality. Further, political engagement around environmental issues remains relatively low in Taiwan compared to engagement in the OECD comparison group. This disjunction suggests a unique model of public opinion and policy outcomes in Taiwan, which is clearly distinct from patterns in the West. Comprehending this model is vital, considering East Asia’s necessary role in a global clean energy transition.

Keywords: clean energy transition; sustainable development goals; socioeconomic disparities; climate change; climate policy; Taiwan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/10/4164/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/10/4164/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:10:p:4164-:d:1395570

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().