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.
Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks had Snapchat that may hold evidence ‘treasure trove’: former FBI agent
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Massie saying Johnson is sending the House home early to prevent Hegseth impeachment
Hawley takes aim at ‘corporate welfare’ after GOP-backed tax break boosted controversial industry
Virginia court sentences Abbey Gate conspirator to 20 years for role in explosion
DOJ Arrests LA Nonprofit Employees in Connection to Multimillion-Dollar Homeless Fraud Schemes
3 stabbed at New York college; 2 suspects in custody
Trump Nominates Lee Greenwood’s Wife, Kimberly, to Be US Ambassador
Kennedy scion accused Trump of ‘bankrupting’ Kennedy Center as ‘hostage taking’ name change battle persists
GOP lawmakers blindsided by new revelations about Trump Butler shooter: ‘Awfully strange’
SEE IT: El-Sayed can’t shake one question before meeting with Dem power brokers
Texas Farm Bureau endorses Ken Paxton after James Talarico faced fallout from vegan comments
Haitian Illegal Immigrant Who Went Viral for Shouting ‘Biden Forever!’ During Arrest Deported by ICE
Thomas Massie Says He Intentionally Blindsided House Leaders When Filing Hegseth Impeachment Articles
‘Worse than Watergate’ New FBI files detail agent’s push to join Trump probe, investigate Elon Musk
5 states could be the biggest losers in Trump’s trade war with Canada, expert warns
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.”
Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks had Snapchat that may hold evidence ‘treasure trove’: former FBI agent
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Massie saying Johnson is sending the House home early to prevent Hegseth impeachment
Hawley takes aim at ‘corporate welfare’ after GOP-backed tax break boosted controversial industry
Virginia court sentences Abbey Gate conspirator to 20 years for role in explosion
DOJ Arrests LA Nonprofit Employees in Connection to Multimillion-Dollar Homeless Fraud Schemes
3 stabbed at New York college; 2 suspects in custody
Trump Nominates Lee Greenwood’s Wife, Kimberly, to Be US Ambassador
Kennedy scion accused Trump of ‘bankrupting’ Kennedy Center as ‘hostage taking’ name change battle persists
GOP lawmakers blindsided by new revelations about Trump Butler shooter: ‘Awfully strange’
SEE IT: El-Sayed can’t shake one question before meeting with Dem power brokers
Texas Farm Bureau endorses Ken Paxton after James Talarico faced fallout from vegan comments
Haitian Illegal Immigrant Who Went Viral for Shouting ‘Biden Forever!’ During Arrest Deported by ICE
Thomas Massie Says He Intentionally Blindsided House Leaders When Filing Hegseth Impeachment Articles
‘Worse than Watergate’ New FBI files detail agent’s push to join Trump probe, investigate Elon Musk
5 states could be the biggest losers in Trump’s trade war with Canada, expert warns
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.
