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.
Luxury real estate brothers sentenced to 30 years in prison for yearslong sex-trafficking scheme
Jordanian Military Goes After Targets in Syria in Response to Terrorists Killing Christians
‘Beloved’ daredevils who scaled Empire State Building inching toward deal after proposal stunt: attorney
DHS Shuts Down Major Chinese Birth Tourism Loophole in US Pacific Territory
175 Democrats demand Trump admin stop Ilhan Omar investigation, warn it could hurt her re-election bid
Shouting match erupts at UN as Cuban foreign minister moves toward US ambassador’s podium: ‘Back up!’
Trump administration ‘monitoring’ leftist organizers ignoring new terrorism sanctions: State Department official
90 Percent of Largest United Methodist Church Congregation Votes to Leave Denomination – But It Won’t Be Easy
Hundreds of staged armed robberies helped thousands pose as crime victims in US immigration scam: DOJ
The Thing That Never Happens: DOJ Says Hundreds of Foreigners Voted in Multiple US Elections
House report says NYC prosecutors tailored plea deals to shield illegal immigrants from deportation
Norway and Finland break norms by phoning Putin directly to urge breakthroughs at trilateral talks
Multi-state manhunt underway as murder victim’s close friend fears escaped killer could strike again
FBI raids Beverly Hills mansion as part of Eric Swalwell investigation
WNBA Players Run Off the Court Again Before National Anthem Ahead of Monday Finals Game
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.”
Luxury real estate brothers sentenced to 30 years in prison for yearslong sex-trafficking scheme
Jordanian Military Goes After Targets in Syria in Response to Terrorists Killing Christians
‘Beloved’ daredevils who scaled Empire State Building inching toward deal after proposal stunt: attorney
DHS Shuts Down Major Chinese Birth Tourism Loophole in US Pacific Territory
175 Democrats demand Trump admin stop Ilhan Omar investigation, warn it could hurt her re-election bid
Shouting match erupts at UN as Cuban foreign minister moves toward US ambassador’s podium: ‘Back up!’
Trump administration ‘monitoring’ leftist organizers ignoring new terrorism sanctions: State Department official
90 Percent of Largest United Methodist Church Congregation Votes to Leave Denomination – But It Won’t Be Easy
Hundreds of staged armed robberies helped thousands pose as crime victims in US immigration scam: DOJ
The Thing That Never Happens: DOJ Says Hundreds of Foreigners Voted in Multiple US Elections
House report says NYC prosecutors tailored plea deals to shield illegal immigrants from deportation
Norway and Finland break norms by phoning Putin directly to urge breakthroughs at trilateral talks
Multi-state manhunt underway as murder victim’s close friend fears escaped killer could strike again
FBI raids Beverly Hills mansion as part of Eric Swalwell investigation
WNBA Players Run Off the Court Again Before National Anthem Ahead of Monday Finals Game
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.
