UBC Theses and Dissertations

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UBC Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the relationship between Canadians’ energy conservation actions and their support for carbon pricing policies Gallot, Hippolyte

Abstract

This thesis examines the relationship between Canadians’ energy conservation actions at home and their support for the carbon tax. The literature on the factors that impact support for carbon pricing and the literature on the factors that impact the completion of energy conservation actions do not intersect; this thesis lies at the heart of this intersection and aims to link them together. This thesis seeks to gain a better understanding of whether people who support carbon pricing policies are more likely to undertake energy conservation actions and, inversely, whether people who undertake energy conservation actions at home are more likely to support carbon pricing policies. The analysis is conducted using panel survey data from five provinces during the time of the implementation of the Canadian carbon tax from 2019 to 2020. The thesis does not find enough significant evidence to ascertain whether those who support carbon pricing are more likely to undertake energy conservation actions, and whether those who undertake energy conservation actions are more likely to support carbon pricing. However, the thesis confirms results from research on support for carbon pricing and finds that educational attainment, increased worry of climate change and partisanship increase support for carbon pricing. It also provided statistically significant evidence that financial incentives such as homeownership and increased utility bills increase support for carbon pricing.

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