Environmental Education and SustainabilitySustainability and Climate Change GovernanceEnvironmental Philosophy and Ethics

Zack Dorner, Robbie Maris, Fredrik Carlsson

2026.1.16Review of Environmental Economics and Policy

DOI: 10.1086/738642

Abstract

This paper examines the role of environmental identity in environmental policy and economics, the extent to which environmental policies affect environmental identity, and the welfare implications. We begin by reviewing the identity economics literature and environmental identity literature, and then present a novel conceptual framework of identity and pro-environmental behavior. We discuss how policy interacts with environmental identity, particularly through shifting and priming. We conclude with suggestions for future policy-making, as well as the role of economics in environmental identity research.

Citation format

DORNER, Zack; MARIS, Robbie; CARLSSON, Fredrik. Environmental identity in economics and policy-making. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 2026, 20(1): 2–22.