Pro-environmental behavior in a common-resource dilemma: The role of beliefs

Abstract

Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence about the anthropogenic nature of climate change, a vocal minority continues to spread skepticism. This inhibits pro-environmental action and fosters a false perception of social reality, leading people to underestimate the pro-environmental intentions and actions of others required to facilitate rapid and deep decarbonization. Previous efforts to address these beliefs through environmental interventions have yielded inconsistent outcomes. In two studies, we jointly examine the role of first-order climate change beliefs and beliefs about others' behavior (Study 1) as well as second-order climate change beliefs (Study 2) in pro-environmental decision-making in controlled laboratory settings. The studies involve a common-resource dilemma – in which a negative environmental externality is triggered depending on the group's collective decision-making. Our findings show that while first-order climate change beliefs weakly predict pro-environmental behavior, second-order climate change beliefs do not correlate with participants' choices when accounting for first-order climate change beliefs. However, beliefs about others' behavior strongly predict people's choices. We discuss the results in terms of the role different types of beliefs play in environmental decision-making.