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Making people aware of eco-innovations can decrease climate despair

Author

Listed:
  • Chris Neale

    (University of Virginia
    University of Huddersfield)

  • Maura M. K. Austin

    (University of Virginia)

  • Jenny Roe

    (University of Virginia)

  • Benjamin A. Converse

    (University of Virginia
    University of Virginia)

Abstract

Climate despair—a sense of hopelessness about humanity’s ability to pursue a sustainable future—is emerging as a psychosocial threat. Psychological science conceptualizes hopelessness as a cognitive schema characterized by negative expectancies. Climate hopelessness, then, may be conceptualized as a mental model that represents climate change as a massive problem with futile response options. It manifests in negative expectancies about the future. Here we show that learning about eco-innovations—novel climate-response options—can decrease climate hopelessness. Across 11 experiments (N = 3224), we found that adults (mostly from the USA) reported lower climate hopelessness after viewing videos that depicted eco-innovations (such as a high-tech, net-zero-energy city) than they did in various control conditions, including those that were unrelated to climate (such as a no-video control) and those that depicted more familiar, schema-consistent climate responses (such as living in a rural, intentional community). This research provides causal evidence that thinking about novel climate responses can contribute to a more hopeful outlook, and it identifies technological innovation as one possible seed for such messaging.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Neale & Maura M. K. Austin & Jenny Roe & Benjamin A. Converse, 2023. "Making people aware of eco-innovations can decrease climate despair," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 176(12), pages 1-21, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:176:y:2023:i:12:d:10.1007_s10584-023-03635-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-023-03635-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Leaf Van Boven & Matthew G. Burgess, 2024. "Introduction to topical collection: social science and sustainability technology," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 177(4), pages 1-6, April.

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