Arctic climate policy development: taking public beliefs into account

Abstract

For the effective implementation of climate policy in the Arctic, public beliefs must be taken into account in its development. The research presented in this report shows that the majority are inclined to believe that climate change is occurring, where the younger generation associates these changes with anthropogenic impact, while the older respondents with natural causes. The majority are confident that climate change in the Russian Arctic will bring positive change, increase the standard of living in the Arctic, improve conditions for farming, and increase the intensity of traffic along the Northern Sea Route. Thus, the population is not ready to bear the possible costs when the climate policy is tightened; people’s expectations are aimed at increasing the comfort of living in the Arctic.