https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0313-8238
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Abstract
Nearly half the tasks currently performed by humans could be automated, which means that large segments of society are expected to seek new jobs within the next few years. Automation and digitalization can be critical in reducing greenhouse gasses and combating climate change. However, they may also reduce individual support for environmental policies. The economic changes brought about by these innovations could reduce environmental concerns among the social groups most affected by the associated loss of jobs. Using data from the International Social Survey Program, this study examines the impact of technological change on environmental attitudes and policy preferences. We hypothesize that individuals exposed to automation will be less likely to care about the environment and less likely to support policies imposing taxes to address climate change or other environmental problems. We use a tailored and objective measure, operating at the individual level, to quantify the degree of exposure to labor market risks. Then we analyze how automatization risk influences individuals developing a propensity to resist environmental regulation within various social and cultural contexts. The results of this research can help us understand how structural changes in the economy affect individuals’ preferences when addressing fundamental environmental problems.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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Àlex Boso
Àlex Boso, is currently a Researcher at the Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT-Spain) and Ad Honorem Visiting Professor at the Department of Social Sciences of the Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile. He has been Associate Professor in the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona) and visiting researcher at the Centro de Investigaciones Filosóficas (Buenos Aires, Argentina), at the Instituto de Estudios Ambientales of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Bogotá, Colombia) or at the School of Global, Urban & Social Studies of the RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia), among other institutions. As an environmental sociologist, he is motivated by the interaction between society, culture, and environment in complex environments. In his research, he has employed a variety of analytical and methodological approaches to address cultural adaptations to risk and behavioral responses to environmental hazards in both rural and, especially, urban settings. His main areas of study are environmental justice, risk perception and ecological transitions. His research has been published in several leading academic journals, among them: Energy Policy; Human Ecology; Local Environment; Society and Natural Resources; Animal Conservation; Energy Research and Social Science; among others.
Boris Álvarez
Boris Álvarez Escobar, with Psychological undergraduate studies and a Master’s degree in the field, he is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Doctorate in Social Sciences program at the University of La Frontera in Temuco, Chile. His doctoral research focuses on the impact of air pollution on people’s well-being in highly polluted cities in southern Chile. As a psychologist, he brings a unique perspective to the interdisciplinary field of environmental sciences. His academic journey reflects a commitment to understanding the intersection of environmental issues, social behavior, and attitudes toward public policies. Exploring the complexities of air pollution and its implications for individual and community well-being aligns with his broader interests in contributing to solutions for environmental challenges. Moreover, he possesses a profound interest in research methodology, specifically in the application of multivariate research techniques that facilitate the examination of intricate models illustrating complex relationships among variables.
Ignacio Rodríguez-Rodríguez
Ignacio Rodríguez, Economist, Diploma of Advanced Studies in integration processes and economic development and PhD in Economics from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. He is a member of the Department of Social Sciences at Universidad de La Frontera, Chile, where he teaches in the PhD program in Social Sciences and in the Master’s program in Natural Resources Management. Currently, he is the director of the Master in Local and Regional Human Development and Secretary General of the Iberoamerican Network of Development Studies (RIED). He is also a researcher at the Group for the Study of the Transformations of the World Economy (GETEM) at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. He has taught graduate classes and conferences in Chile, Uruguay, Spain and Mexico. He has also participated in international research projects and has published his work in journals and books. His research area focuses on sustainable development, well-being and digital transformation of the economy.
Luz Karime Sánchez-Galvis
Luz Karime Sánchez-Galvis holds a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of La Frontera, Chile (2016), and a recent Master’s degree in Science and Technology of Water Resources from the University of Girona, Spain (2023). She has actively participated in several environmental research projects in Chile and Spain, including European projects such as GiroNaT (Turn toward renaturing for a more resilient and healthy Girona) and “EdiCitNeT” (Edible Cities Network). Currently, she is affiliated with the research group LEQUIA (Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering) at the University of Girona. Her research focuses on water governance, nature-based solutions, environmental justice, and the social acceptance of digital technologies in the water sector.