FairZero
Climate change represents one of the most complex challenges of our time. Governments worldwide are adopting ambitious goals for net-zero emissions by mid-century. Achieving these goals will, however, require more than individual policy instruments like carbon taxes to deal with multiple goals and interests; they require comprehensive "policy portfolios"- carefully designed combinations of policies to ensure effectiveness, fairness, and public support.
This is midnight sun at Mjelle bay in the outskirts of Bodø. Photo: Trond Kristiansen / creative commons
Project details
The FairZero project focuses on understanding how to design these portfolios. By studying the public’s attitudes using a range of scientific methods, the project aims to uncover strategies for ensuring sufficient support while achieving climate goals in a cost-efficient manner. The project work will proceed within three key areas: behavioral insights, household energy use, and transportation.
Using focus groups, lab experiments, and survey experiments, the team will investigate how combining incentives (e.g., subsidies for clean energy) with restrictions (e.g., fossil fuel taxes) can address public concerns about fairness and effectiveness. For example, can pairing stricter building codes with targeted subsidies make policies more acceptable across diverse social groups?
The outcomes will provide actionable insights for policymakers, helping them craft strategies that are not only efficient but also equitable. FairZero's findings will directly inform efforts to reduce emissions in Norway and provide useful insights that can be applied also in other countries.
