[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Perception gaps in the British Parliament reveal a possible pathway to stronger climate policy action

## Details

**Authors** Tanase et al.

**Year** 2026

**Publisher** Communications Sustainability

**Discipline** Political Science

**Secondary disciplines** Public Policy

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1038/s44458-026-00097-9) 
10.1038/s44458-026-00097-9

## In authors' words

### What they found (results)

A survey of 100 sitting UK MPs found they underestimated public support for climate policies by 11 percentage points on average and overestimated division between voter groups, with lower perceived support associated with reduced willingness to speak in favor of a pricing policy.

## Commentary

### In short

Members of Parliament's internal model of what the public believes is measurably different from the public's actual position as captured by independent polling, and this perspective gap -- rather than actual public opinion -- is what drives their political behavior.

**Patterns it shows** R, P

**Added** 2026-08-24

**How to cite this** Tanase et al. (2026). Perception gaps in the British Parliament reveal a possible pathway to stronger climate policy action. Communications Sustainability.