Support for Emissions Reductions Based on Immediate and Long-term Pollution Exposure in China

Reducing power sector emissions in China is a critical step toward mitigating climate change and lowering health damages from air pollution. We conduct a discrete choice survey (N = 1060) among urban residents from 10 Chinese cities, assessing how individuals compare electricity source, cost, and reduction of emissions related to climate change or air pollution. Using observed air quality data, we also evaluate how pollution levels affect respondents' support for different types of emissions reductions. We find that reductions targeting both climate change and human health benefits have stronger support than those which address only one of the two. Furthermore, respondents in cities with the highest annual concentrations of particulate matter are willing to pay 30% more to clean up the air when compared to individuals living in less polluted cities. The analysis suggests that the public values co-optimizing mitigation policy across climate and health objectives, and that making available information on long-term air quality may encourage sustained support for cleaner energy.