The differential impact of climate interventions along the political divide in 60 countries

The differential impact of climate interventions along the political divide in 60 countries

08 May 2024 | Michael Berkebile-Weinberg, Danielle Goldwert, Kimberly C. Doell, Jay J. Van Bavel & Madalina Vlasceanu
A global study across 60 countries (N=51,224) examines the differential impact of 11 climate interventions on climate beliefs, policy support, and individual-level climate action across political ideologies. The study finds that liberals generally hold stronger climate beliefs and support climate policies than conservatives. However, no significant differences were found in the degree of engagement in a behavioral tree planting task, suggesting that conservatives act despite not believing in climate change, rather than liberals failing to act on their beliefs. Three interventions—emphasizing effective collective actions, writing a letter to a future generation member, and writing a letter from the future self—boosted climate beliefs and policy support across ideologies. One intervention, emphasizing scientific consensus, stimulated climate action among liberals. No interventions showed significant effects on climate action among conservatives. The findings suggest that climate action may not always align with beliefs, and that interventions targeting liberals may be more effective in increasing climate action. The study highlights the importance of understanding ideological differences in designing climate interventions and the need for further research on effective strategies to promote climate action across political divides.A global study across 60 countries (N=51,224) examines the differential impact of 11 climate interventions on climate beliefs, policy support, and individual-level climate action across political ideologies. The study finds that liberals generally hold stronger climate beliefs and support climate policies than conservatives. However, no significant differences were found in the degree of engagement in a behavioral tree planting task, suggesting that conservatives act despite not believing in climate change, rather than liberals failing to act on their beliefs. Three interventions—emphasizing effective collective actions, writing a letter to a future generation member, and writing a letter from the future self—boosted climate beliefs and policy support across ideologies. One intervention, emphasizing scientific consensus, stimulated climate action among liberals. No interventions showed significant effects on climate action among conservatives. The findings suggest that climate action may not always align with beliefs, and that interventions targeting liberals may be more effective in increasing climate action. The study highlights the importance of understanding ideological differences in designing climate interventions and the need for further research on effective strategies to promote climate action across political divides.
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