The Spatial Dimension of Climate Change Attitudes: A Study of the Urban-Rural and Center-Periphery Divide in Norway
Abstract
Climate change attitudes are crucial in shaping public support for climate policies, yet geographic divides in these attitudes remain underexplored. This thesis investigates how rurality and the center-periphery divide influence climate change attitudes in Norway, using Rokkan’s theories of geographic cleavages. By addressing the research question "To what degree do rurality and the center-periphery cleavage affect attitudes toward climate change policies?", this thesis sheds light on how place-based identities and economic dependencies shape public opinion. Using data from the Norwegian Citizen Panel, survey questions on general attitudes, taxation, and energy policy were analyzed through ordinal logistic regression. The findings reveal that rurality is a stronger determinant of climate attitudes than peripherality, with rural residents generally less supportive of climate measures. Non-linear effects suggest that rurality’s influence stabilizes or diminishes among the most rural respondents. Economic concerns overshadow cultural factors in peripheral regions, particularly in the Western coastal periphery, where oil and gas dependency drives resistance to climate policies. Meanwhile, the Inland periphery shows unexpected support for renewable energy subsidies, consistent with Rokkan’s theory that proximity to the national center fosters alignment with central policies. These results emphasize the distinct effects of the urban-rural and center-periphery divides, highlighting the need for climate policies tailored to regional economic contexts. By bridging gaps in existing research, this thesis offers insights relevant to Norway and other Western democracies where geographic divides shape climate policy resistance.
Description
Postponed access: the file will be accessible after 2027-11-20