The perceived psychological distance of climate change impacts and its influence on support for adaptation policy |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 195 Marstellar St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States;2. Michigan State University, Environmental Science and Policy Program and School of Criminal Justice, 655 Auditorium Road, East Lansing, MI 48823, United States;3. The Ohio State University, School of Environment and Natural Resources, 210 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, United States;1. School of Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Street, Tehran, Iran;2. Graduate School of Management and Economics, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Street, Tehran, Iran;3. Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin Avenue, Tehran, Iran;1. University of Hamburg, Institute of Geography, Bundesstrasse 55, 20146 Hamburg, Germany;2. Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute for Coastal Research, Department Human Dimensions in Coastal Areas, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany;1. Department of Communication & Journalism, University of Maine, 428 Dunn Hall, Orono, ME 04401, USA;2. Department of Communication, State University of New York at Buffalo, 329 Baldy Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA;3. Department of Communication, Cornell University, 465 Mann Library Building, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA |
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| Abstract: | Factors influencing support for climate mitigation policy in the United States are well researched, however, research regarding individuals’ support for climate adaptation policy is relatively sparse. This study explores how an individual’s perception of climate change impacts may influence their support for adaptation actions. Results of a survey of the U.S. public (n = 653) indicates that individuals who believe climate change impacts are unlikely to happen or will primarily affect other people in other places are less likely to be concerned about climate change impacts and less likely to support climate adaptation. However, an individual’s support for climate change adaptation measures is not influenced by their perception of when climate change impacts will occur even when taking into account concern for climate impacts. Critical for policy-makers, a belief that climate adaptation measures will not be effective attenuates the relationship between psychological distance, concern for climate change impacts, and adaptation policy measures. Our results indicate that to effectively communicate about climate change, policy-makers should emphasize that: (i) climate change impacts are occurring, (ii) that their constituents are being affected now, or will be in the future, and (iii) communicate that adaptation measures can be effective in addressing risks associated with climate change impacts. |
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| Keywords: | Psychological distance Climate change adaptation Climate change policy Climate change impacts Climate communications |
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