Navigating Environmental Perceptions: Exploring the Impact of Political Orientation and Climate Change Beliefs on the Evaluation of the Local Environment

Amid the global climate change crisis, the societal importance of the environment is becoming increasingly clear. Discussions on climate change and its impacts occur across various levels, yet the effects remain unclear for many. In this study, we examined the role of political orientation (left/right ideology) in shaping perceptions of climate change and local nature among residents in two municipalities in southwestern Finland. Our findings reveal a strong link between political orientation and changes in how local nature is perceived, particularly at the community level. While political opinions have a less significant influence on perceptions at the individual and national levels, they play a substantial role within communities. This suggests that political orientation becomes more influential in shaping environmental views as evaluations shift to the community level, emphasizing the interaction between political preferences and perceptions of local nature.