But what can we do on a personal level to prevent it?
Wändi Bruine de Bruin
Highlights
- College-educated people are more likely to be concerned about climate change, but personal experience with extreme weather is also a factor.
- 74% of U.S. residents are willing to make changes in how they live and work to combat climate change, but may not know where to start.
- Personal actions might include eating less meat, turning down the thermostat, voting for climate-friendly candidates.
A majority of people — 69% — around the world say that climate change is “a somewhat serious threat” or “a very serious threat,” according an analysis I published in April 2022 in the journal Climatic Change. The analysis was based on the 2019 Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll.
Surprisingly, figures released this week from the 2021 Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll show virtually the same level of concern: 67%. That’s notwithstanding that the figures from the latter period were gathered during the pandemic, when concern about climate change would have presumably been much lower.
The worldwide recognition of the threat of climate change signals a shift from 2007-2008, when there was still worldwide apathy or lack of awareness about climate change.
Americans are also showing increased concerns about climate change. In 2021, a majority of people in every U.S. state reported being concerned about climate change. This was after years of Americans showing little to no concern about climate change, even though climate scientists have been ringing the warning bell since at least the 1950s.
Moreover, a 2021 Pew Research Center poll found that 74% of people in the U.S. were willing to make “some changes” or “a lot of changes” in how they live and work to combat the effects of climate change. Similarly, a majority across 16 other countries in North America, Europe and Asia was willing to do so.
Why are people more concerned than ever before?
Psychologists have identified two main ways in which people learn about new topics: First, through information and, second, through their own experience.
People can get information about climate change through the media and climate reports. But information about climate change can be hard to understand, thanks to complex terms such as “adaptation” and “mitigation.” Perhaps it’s no surprise that analyses of the World Risk Poll found that people with a college education are more likely to report concerns about climate change.
Experience with severe weather may also inform people’s climate change concerns. And it doesn’t require a college degree to see that the weather has gotten worse. It is increasingly evident that climate change is happening: Heat waves, wildfires, and floods are becoming more severe and more common in the U.S. and around the world.
Now that most of us are concerned, what do we do about it?
Notwithstanding growing concern about climate change and a willingness to take action, several recent studies in the U.S. and the United Kingdom have suggested that people do not always know how to reduce their climate impact. Below are three recommendations that will make the biggest difference, in terms of reducing your climate impact:
- Eat less meat.
Animal agriculture, especially the cattle industry, is a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions. The more meat we consume, the more we contribute to climate change. Giving up meat entirely is the single biggest step most people can take to reduce their carbon footprint. But if you find that difficult, replacing red meat with chicken and foregoing meat when you can also make a big difference.
- Use the heater and air conditioner less.
In most homes, electric heating and cooling uses the most energy. Set the thermostat to a lower temperature when heating and wear a sweater instead. Close blinds or curtains during the day and use fans when it’s hot, so that you need the air conditioner less. If you can, adding insulation, switching to a programmable thermostat and installing more effective heaters and air conditioners will make an even bigger difference.
- Vote climate-focused politicians into office.
While individual action can make a difference, the biggest climate impact is made by companies and governments. Getting those companies and governments to act will require a change in climate policy. When going to the polls, vote for candidates who commit to implementing climate-friendly policies.
Wändi Bruine de Bruin is Provost Professor of Public Policy, Psychology and Behavioral Science at the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy and Dornsife Department of Psychology. She receives funding from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation to analyze World Risk Poll findings and share the resulting actionable insights with policy makers. She informed the design of the 2019 and 2021 World Risk Poll.