State intervention or individual responsibility? Determinants of environmental actions according to welfare regimes and political ideologies

The main objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between welfare regimes, political affiliations, and their impact on attitudes towards environmental protection. We consider differences at the national level, changes over time, and factors at the individual level. We analyze both governmental and nongovernmental environmental efforts to determine if they complement each other or are in opposition. The findings underscore variations in environmental actions anchored to the nature of the welfare state and the prevailing political ideologies. Specifically, countries characterized by protectionist regimes demonstrate stronger governmental involvement in environmental efforts, whereas liberal states predominantly endorse nonstate-led initiatives. Political transitions significantly dictate climate action support. Our temporal analysis reveals that a shift towards right-leaning governance corresponds with a diminished inclination towards endorsing environmental mechanisms. Within this context, nations with a prevailing right-leaning political paradigm manifest reduced commitment to formal environmental policies, yet witness heightened advocacy for climate-related protests. In contrast, countries under a predominant left-leaning political regime exhibit amplified support for environmental strategies. Furthermore, individuals with left-leaning ideologies consistently express a stronger preference for environmental initiatives as opposed to their right-leaning counterparts. Remarkably, in nations plagued by pronounced inequality and overt corruption, there exists a diminished willingness to finance environmental taxes. However, there is an augmented predisposition towards endorsing environmental demonstrations.