A new study finds climate change skeptics are more likely to behave in eco-friendly ways than those who are highly concerned about the issue.
Do our behaviors really reflect our beliefs? New research suggests that, when it comes to climate change, the answer is no. And that goes for both skeptics and believers.
Participants in a year-long study who doubted the scientific consensus on the issue “opposed policy solutions,” but at the same time, they “were most likely to report engaging in individual-level, pro-environmental behaviors,” writes a research team led by University of Michigan psychologist Michael Hall.
Conversely, those who expressed the greatest belief in, and concern about, the warming environment “were most supportive of government climate policies, but least likely to report individual-level actions.”
Sorry, I didn’t have time to recycle—I was busy watching a documentary about the crumbling Antarctic ice shelf.
Highly Respected, Long Tenured NFL Head Coach Fired After Team Failed to Make the Playoffs
‘Squad’ Rep Ayanna Pressley’s ex-con husband slaps phone out of man’s hands as he tries to ask her a question
By Mamdani Aide’s Own Logic, Her Mom Apparently Wields ‘Weapon of White Supremacy’
NYC sex offender indicted for threatening to kill Jews, police and federal officials
James Comer to accuse Tim Walz of being ‘asleep at the wheel’ at fraud hearing
Wisconsin judge convicted of obstructing ICE resigns, vows to keep fighting case
Wyoming Supreme Court rules laws restricting abortion violate state constitution
Trump admin expands visa bond requirement to 38 countries, with fees up to $15K
Video shows masked thieves using sledgehammer in brazen Lululemon heist before fleeing in U-Haul
Vance reposts sombrero meme mocking Democrats’ Jan 6 candlelight vigil
‘The People’s Qur’an’: Mamdani announces NYC Quran exhibit with book belonging to revolutionary activist
Biden, Who Donated Less Than 1 Percent of His Income to Charity at Times, Is Getting the Single Most ‘Extravagant’ Presidential Pension in History
Pardoned Jan. 6 participants demand ‘retribution’ in first commemorative march on Capitol
Jasmine Crockett Has Vulgar Response to SCOTUS After She Lost District in Texas
Trump announces Venezuela turning over millions of barrels of oil to US government ‘immediately’
The study, published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, followed more than 400 Americans for a full year. On seven occasions—roughly once every eight weeks—participants revealed their climate change beliefs, and their level of support for policies such as gasoline taxes and fuel economy standards.
They also noted how frequently they engaged in four environmentally friendly behaviors: recycling, using public transportation, buying “green” products, and using reusable shopping bags.
The researchers found participants broke down into three groups, which they labeled “skeptical,” “cautiously worried,” and “highly concerned.” While policy preferences of group members tracked with their beliefs, their behaviors largely did not: Skeptics reported using public transportation, buying eco-friendly products, and using reusable bags more often than those in the other two categories.
This pattern was found consistently through the year, leading the researchers to conclude that “belief in climate change does not appear to be a necessary or sufficient condition for pro-environmental behavior.”
Highly Respected, Long Tenured NFL Head Coach Fired After Team Failed to Make the Playoffs
‘Squad’ Rep Ayanna Pressley’s ex-con husband slaps phone out of man’s hands as he tries to ask her a question
By Mamdani Aide’s Own Logic, Her Mom Apparently Wields ‘Weapon of White Supremacy’
NYC sex offender indicted for threatening to kill Jews, police and federal officials
James Comer to accuse Tim Walz of being ‘asleep at the wheel’ at fraud hearing
Wisconsin judge convicted of obstructing ICE resigns, vows to keep fighting case
Wyoming Supreme Court rules laws restricting abortion violate state constitution
Trump admin expands visa bond requirement to 38 countries, with fees up to $15K
Video shows masked thieves using sledgehammer in brazen Lululemon heist before fleeing in U-Haul
Vance reposts sombrero meme mocking Democrats’ Jan 6 candlelight vigil
‘The People’s Qur’an’: Mamdani announces NYC Quran exhibit with book belonging to revolutionary activist
Biden, Who Donated Less Than 1 Percent of His Income to Charity at Times, Is Getting the Single Most ‘Extravagant’ Presidential Pension in History
Pardoned Jan. 6 participants demand ‘retribution’ in first commemorative march on Capitol
Jasmine Crockett Has Vulgar Response to SCOTUS After She Lost District in Texas
Trump announces Venezuela turning over millions of barrels of oil to US government ‘immediately’
Hall and his colleagues can only speculate about the reasons for their results. But regarding the concerned but inactive, the psychological phenomenon known as moral licensing is a likely culprit.
Previous research has found doing something altruistic—even buying organic foods—gives us license to engage in selfish activity. We’ve “earned” points in our own mind. So if you’ve pledged some money to Greenpeace, you feel entitled to enjoying the convenience of a plastic bag.
Regarding climate change skeptics, remember that conservatism prizes individual action over collective efforts. So while they may assert disbelief in order to stave off coercive (in their view) actions by the government, many could take pride in doing what they can do on a personal basis.
The results suggest that “changing skeptical Americans’ minds need not be a top priority for climate policymakers,” at least if their goal is inspiring individual action. Perhaps the more urgent task is to focus on people who already grasp the problem, and get them to align their actions with their concern.
Story cited here.
