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.
John Bolton Set to Take Plea Deal: Report
WATCH: AOC lashes out at Trump for ‘betrayal’ of voters after key SCOTUS immigration rulings
WATCH: Kellyanne Conway insists socialist primary victories don’t reflect American values nationwide
Trump nominates Chris Klomp for HHS deputy secretary, calls him ‘a potential STAR’
Muslim Mamdani-backed socialist primary winner suggested America deserved 9/11 in unearthed video
Democrats ditch the ‘Valleycrat’ playbook in bid to topple California GOP congressman
Illegal immigrant gets eight year prison sentence for $89 million payroll tax fraud scheme
The business of suing the federal government
Slotkin says Democratic Party needs ‘new leadership’: ‘Old models are no longer working’
Trump administration pledges $150M in aid, deploys Navy warships after deadly Venezuela earthquakes
Florida executes 74-year-old for wife’s murder, becoming oldest inmate put to death in state’s modern history
A Warning Charlie Kirk Gave Back in 2020 Coming True Now Within Democratic Party
French citizen who illegally cast ballot in 2022 midterms says New Jersey automatically registered him to vote
Jury deadlocks in federal trial of man accused of starting deadly Palisades Fire in Los Angeles
Dems put on blast over poll that shows record-low patriotism in US: ‘Tear our society apart’
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.”
John Bolton Set to Take Plea Deal: Report
WATCH: AOC lashes out at Trump for ‘betrayal’ of voters after key SCOTUS immigration rulings
WATCH: Kellyanne Conway insists socialist primary victories don’t reflect American values nationwide
Trump nominates Chris Klomp for HHS deputy secretary, calls him ‘a potential STAR’
Muslim Mamdani-backed socialist primary winner suggested America deserved 9/11 in unearthed video
Democrats ditch the ‘Valleycrat’ playbook in bid to topple California GOP congressman
Illegal immigrant gets eight year prison sentence for $89 million payroll tax fraud scheme
The business of suing the federal government
Slotkin says Democratic Party needs ‘new leadership’: ‘Old models are no longer working’
Trump administration pledges $150M in aid, deploys Navy warships after deadly Venezuela earthquakes
Florida executes 74-year-old for wife’s murder, becoming oldest inmate put to death in state’s modern history
A Warning Charlie Kirk Gave Back in 2020 Coming True Now Within Democratic Party
French citizen who illegally cast ballot in 2022 midterms says New Jersey automatically registered him to vote
Jury deadlocks in federal trial of man accused of starting deadly Palisades Fire in Los Angeles
Dems put on blast over poll that shows record-low patriotism in US: ‘Tear our society apart’
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.
