Climate change risk perceptions and the problem of scale

Evidence From Cross-National Survey Experiments

Bibliographic Data

ID4329481
AuthorsEndre Tvinnereim (0000-0001-8891-2503, University of Bergen, corresponding author), Ole Martin Lægreid (0000-0001-6754-1782, NORCE Research AS), Xiaozi Liu (0000-0002-2299-8612, NORCE Research AS), Daigee Shaw (0000-0002-5781-0296, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United), Christopher Borick (0000-0003-4850-119X, Muhlenberg College), Erick Lachapelle (0000-0002-0808-0688, Université de Montréal)
Year2020
Volume29
Issue7
Pages1178-1198
Publication date2020-11-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnvironmental Politics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0964-4016 • E-ISSN: 1743-8934
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09644016.2019.1708538
OpenAlexW3002125664
LanguageEN
Citations received21
References cited34

We examine the concept of spatial optimism, defined as the tendency for individuals to perceive climate change as less threatening to themselves than to people in geographically more distant locations. Existing studies find mixed evidence of this phenomenon, while the methods employed often fail to rule out confounding factors. To resolve these empirical and methodological tensions, we present results from a survey experiment fielded in nine countries spanning Europe, North America, and Asia. The survey finds that respondents systematically perceive climate change as a greater threat to the world than to themselves, in nine countries. However, while groups that may be considered more vulnerable to climate change often display higher levels of perceived overall risk, the survey finds evidence of spatial bias to be systematic across and within cases. Future research should apply this measurement strategy in more vulnerable countries and over time

Climate change · Confounding · Demographic economics · Economics · Empirical evidence · Geography · Optimism · Optimism bias · Perception · Survey data collection · Survey research · Applied Psychology · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Psychology · Risk Perception and Management · Social Psychology

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