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Correcting Consumer Misperceptions about CO2 emissions

Author

Listed:
  • Taisuke Imai

    (The University of Osaka)

  • Davide Pace

    (LMU Munich)

  • Schwardmann Peter

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • van der Weele Joel

    (University of Amsterdam)

Abstract

Policy makers frequently champion information provision about carbon impact on the premise that consumers are willing to mitigate their emissions but are poorly informed about how to do so. We empirically test this argument and reject it. We collect an extensive new dataset and find both large misperceptions of the carbon impact of different consumption behaviors and clear preferences for mitigation. Yet, in two separate experiments, we show that correcting beliefs has no effect on consumption in large representative samples. Our null results are well-powered and informative, as we target information for maximal impact. These results call into question the potential of correcting carbon footprint misperceptions as a tool to fight climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Taisuke Imai & Davide Pace & Schwardmann Peter & van der Weele Joel, 2025. "Correcting Consumer Misperceptions about CO2 emissions," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 529, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    • Handle: RePEc:rco:dpaper:529
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Adrian R. Camilleri & Richard P. Larrick & Shajuti Hossain & Dalia Patino-Echeverri, 2019. "Consumers underestimate the emissions associated with food but are aided by labels," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 53-58, January.
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    4. Toke R. Fosgaard & Alice Pizzo & Sally Sadoff, 2021. "Do People Respond to the Climate Impact of their Behavior? The Effect of Carbon Footprint Information on Grocery Purchases," IFRO Working Paper 2021/05, University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics.
    5. Toke R. Fosgaard & Alice Pizzo & Sally Sadoff, 2024. "Do People Respond to the Climate Impact of their Behavior? The Effect of Carbon Footprint Information on Grocery Purchases," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 87(7), pages 1847-1886, July.
    6. Giovanna d’Adda & Yu Gao & Massimo Tavoni, 2022. "A randomized trial of energy cost information provision alongside energy-efficiency classes for refrigerator purchases," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(4), pages 360-368, April.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    climate change; carbon emissions; information provision; consumer behavior;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D84 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Expectations; Speculations
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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