Plastic action or distraction? Marine plastic campaigns influence public engagement with climate change in both general and engaged audiences
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21521758 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Yolanda Waters (0000-0001-6261-8437, Agriculture and Food, corresponding author), Yolanda L Waters, Kerrie A Wilson (0000-0002-0092-935X, Queensland University of Technology), Angela J Dean (0000-0003-4017-4809, Queensland University of Technology) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 152 |
| Pages | 105580 |
| Publication date | 2023-06-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Marine Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0308-597X • E-ISSN: 1872-9460 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105580 |
| OpenAlex | W4365457350 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 7 |
| References cited | 59 |
Climate change poses a key threat to marine ecosystems globally. Yet, contemporary discussions on marine conservation and individual action tend to focus on small lifestyle changes such as reducing plastic use. Some question whether campaigns that target “low impact” behaviours such as those related to plastic distract from broader sustainability goals such as mitigating climate change. However, others suggest that promoting simple behaviours may cause “behavioural spillover”, where simple behaviours influence the adoption of additional and potentially more impactful behaviours. Across two experimental surveys (N1 =581, N2 =572), in the context of the Great Barrier Reef, we test whether messages targeting plastic behaviours can influence the adoption of a range of climate-related behaviours, from reducing personal emissions to urging local representatives to take action on climate change. We find that messages which focus on plastic pollution can potentially lead to an increase in climate behaviours, particularly when past behaviours are made salient. However, we find no positive effects for already engaged audiences. Our findings suggest caution when developing plastic messaging strategies for reef conservation when behavioural spillover is the central goal
Behaviour change · Climate change · Economics · Environmental resource management · Geography · Great barrier reef · Plastic pollution · Reef · Spillover effect · Sustainability · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Environmental Science · Innovative Human-Technology Interaction · Psychology · Ecology · Pollution
From citizen science experiences to stewardship action
Strategies and attributes of scientists for public engagement with climate change
Climate engagement for vulnerable marine ecosystems – Impact of marine tourism experiences on visitors
Opportunities for meaningful climate change engagement in vulnerable nature settings
Catalysing conservation
A sea of plastic
Promising Campaign Themes to Promote Active Pro-Environmental Behaviors among U.S. Coastal Residents
A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance
Strategies for Promoting Proenvironmental Behavior
For better or for worse? Empirical evidence of moral licensing in a behavioral energy conservation campaign
Green identity, green living? The role of pro-environmental self-identity in determining consistency across diverse pro-environmental behaviours
Social norms and energy conservation
Household actions can provide a behavioral wedge to rapidly reduce US carbon emissions
Simple and Painless? The Limitations of Spillover in Environmental Campaigning
Behavioural spillover in the environmental domain
A cognitive dissonance interpretation of consistencies and inconsistencies in environmentally responsible behavior
Equivalence of the Mediation, Confounding and Suppression Effect
Accelerating the adoption of water sensitive innovations
Targeted Change
Audience Segments in Environmental and Science Communication
The polarizing impact of science literacy and numeracy on perceived climate change risks
Improving Public Engagement With Climate Change
Self-efficacy
Leveraging Social Science to Generate Lasting Engagement with Climate Change Solutions
Advancing Coral Reef Governance into the Anthropocene
Meta-analysis of pro-environmental behaviour spillover
It starts at home? Climate policies targeting household consumption and behavioral decisions are key to low-carbon futures
Targeting and tailoring climate change communications
Audience segmentation and climate change communication
Building community support for coastal management — What types of messages are most effective
Message framing influences perceived climate change competence, engagement, and behavioral intentions
Scepticism and uncertainty about climate change
Positive and negative spillover of pro-environmental behavior
Public engagement with carbon and climate change
Like ripples on a pond
The introduction of a single-use carrier bag charge in Wales
Channelling passion for the ocean towards plastic pollution
| Citations per year | 3.5 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2024 - 2026 (3) |
| Highly cited | No |