Emotions predict policy support: Why it matters how people feel about climate change

Susie Wang, Zoe Leviston, Mark John Hurlstone, Carmen Mary Lawrence, Iain Alexander Walker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

165 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Current research shows that emotions can motivate climate engagement and action, but precisely how has received scant attention. We propose that strong emotional responses to climate change result from perceiving one's “objects of care” as threatened by climate change, which motivates caring about climate change itself, and in turn predicts behaviour. In two studies, we find that climate scientists (N = 44) experience greater emotional intensity about climate change than do students (N = 94) and the general population (N = 205), and that patterns of emotional responses explain differences in support for climate change policy. Scientists tied their emotional responses to concern about consequences of climate change to future generations and the planet, as well as personal identities associated with responsibility to act. Our findings suggest that “objects of care” that link people to climate change may be crucial to understanding why some people feel more strongly about the issue than others, and how emotions can prompt action.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)25-40
Number of pages16
JournalGlobal Environmental Change-Human and Policy Dimensions
Volume50
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2018

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