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.
Reporter’s Notebook: Congress dodged a fall shutdown, but the real fight looms
British authorities arrest dual national on suspicion of ‘preparation of terrorist acts’ in RAF Fairford case
Breaking: Execution of TN Woman Goes Bad: 2 Lethal Injections Leave Subject Snoring, Very Much Alive
Indian Flydubai pilot ‘recovering well’ in hospital: Ambassador
California governor debate turns into Trump-Newsom proxy war
10 Democrat-held House seats Republicans could flip to save their majority
Trump’s new high-tech government hub holds some bizarre surprises: ‘Enjoy finding them’
Breaking: Israel Says Hijacker ‘Underwent Islamist Radical Indoctrination’ Before Trying to Crash Plane of Jews
Trump handing 1 million Americans Obamacare refund checks in 30 states
National Guard deployment tallies up $49 million in food costs alone
Man Who Took Explosives to Mass for SCOTUS Justices Gets Mindboggling Sentence Thanks to Obama Judge
Loyal dog fetches police to help owner who fell at Kansas home
Sotomayor denies mom’s bid to get son into elite NYC school amid racial discrimination fight
Ranchers are furious about diesel prices and beef imports. Could it cost Republicans a Senate seat in Kansas?
Biden DOJ Senior Prosecutor Hit with Criminal Referral Amid ‘Troubling if True’ Allegations
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.”
Reporter’s Notebook: Congress dodged a fall shutdown, but the real fight looms
British authorities arrest dual national on suspicion of ‘preparation of terrorist acts’ in RAF Fairford case
Breaking: Execution of TN Woman Goes Bad: 2 Lethal Injections Leave Subject Snoring, Very Much Alive
Indian Flydubai pilot ‘recovering well’ in hospital: Ambassador
California governor debate turns into Trump-Newsom proxy war
10 Democrat-held House seats Republicans could flip to save their majority
Trump’s new high-tech government hub holds some bizarre surprises: ‘Enjoy finding them’
Breaking: Israel Says Hijacker ‘Underwent Islamist Radical Indoctrination’ Before Trying to Crash Plane of Jews
Trump handing 1 million Americans Obamacare refund checks in 30 states
National Guard deployment tallies up $49 million in food costs alone
Man Who Took Explosives to Mass for SCOTUS Justices Gets Mindboggling Sentence Thanks to Obama Judge
Loyal dog fetches police to help owner who fell at Kansas home
Sotomayor denies mom’s bid to get son into elite NYC school amid racial discrimination fight
Ranchers are furious about diesel prices and beef imports. Could it cost Republicans a Senate seat in Kansas?
Biden DOJ Senior Prosecutor Hit with Criminal Referral Amid ‘Troubling if True’ Allegations
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.
