Arguments that prompt us to engage in more climate action

Which arguments or information prompt people to engage in more climate action? An international team of researchers has studied the factors that could raise awareness about climate change and pro-environmental behaviour. To this end, they analysed around 60,000 sets of data from 63 countries. Probably the biggest international dataset on the psychology of climate change, it is now even accessible online via a web application. You can filter the search results by categories such as country, age or income to see how the 11 psychological interventions affected the respective group. 

The effect on four parameters was investigated: belief in climate change, support for climate policy, willingness to share information about climate change on social media or to actively engage in climate action oneself. The table indicates the extent (in percentage terms) to which a person’s behaviour or attitude was changed by the respective intervention. Positive percentages indicate more and negative percentages less climate awareness and willingness to act. 

You can find an overview of the eleven interventions here.

You can give it a try yourself here.

Link
Climate Intervention Webapp

Eva-Maria Verfürth is editor-in-chief of D+C.
euz.editor@dandc.eu 

This story is part of The 89 Percent Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now.