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Learning from the COVID-19 pandemic to combat climate change: comparing drivers of individual action in global crises

Author

Listed:
  • Marijn H. C. Meijers

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Christin Scholz

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Ragnheiður “Heather” Torfadóttir

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Anke Wonneberger

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Marko Markov

    (University of Amsterdam)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change are two global crises that require collective action. Yet, the inertia typically associated with behavior change to limit climate change stands in contrast to the speed associated with behavior change to stop the spread of COVID-19. Identifying the roots of these differences can help us stimulate climate-friendly behaviors. We assessed the extent to which a number of theory-based drivers underlie behaviors aiming to counter COVID-19 and climate change with an online survey (N = 534). We focused on the role of a number of drivers derived from prominent behavior change theories and meta-analyses in the field, namely, personal threat, threat to close others, threat to vulnerable others, fear, participative efficacy, injunctive and descriptive social norms, and governmental policy perceptions. We investigated (1) what drivers people perceived as most important to engage in behaviors that limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change and (2) the strength of the associations between these drivers and engaging in behaviors that limit the spread of the pandemic and climate change. Results highlight three key drivers for climate change action: changing perceptions of governmental policy and perceptions of threat to close others and priming participative efficacy beliefs.

Suggested Citation

  • Marijn H. C. Meijers & Christin Scholz & Ragnheiður “Heather” Torfadóttir & Anke Wonneberger & Marko Markov, 2022. "Learning from the COVID-19 pandemic to combat climate change: comparing drivers of individual action in global crises," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 12(2), pages 272-282, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:12:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s13412-021-00727-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s13412-021-00727-9
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    1. Dragan Burić & Miroslav Doderović, 2022. "Trend of Percentile Climate Indices in Montenegro in the Period 1961–2020," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, September.

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