The Challenges of Mitigating Climate Change Hidden in End-User Beliefs and Expectations

Gerda Žigienė,Edita Gimžauskienė,Vaidas Gaidelys,Egidijus Rybakovas

doi:10.3390/su13052616

Abstract

This research explores the potential challenges of reducing climate change hidden in the personal and collective energy use-related beliefs and expectations of end users. The study proposes a new typology of social environments, using the concept of personal and collective efficacy, which is suitable for exploring the level and nature of the challenges of solving social problems that require engaging whole societies. We use empirical data from round eight of the European Social Survey, which covers more than 20 European countries, and we employ the basic statistical methods of descriptive statistics, linear correlation and population proportion. The findings suggest that the challenges to climate-change mitigation by changing energy-use behaviour could be hidden in contradictions between beliefs in personal and collective abilities to contribute and positive outcome expectations. This opportunity could be addressed by relevant policy measures, providing more evidence of positive outcomes, even from personal contributions, and developing suitable means for collective contributions to increase awareness and belief in collective engagement.

Highlights

IntroductionIn the latest report on global warming, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change claimed that human-induced global warming reached approximately 1 ◦ C above the pre-industrial period levels (1850 to 1900 is used as an approximation of pre-industrial temperatures) in
People’s motivation to limit energy use and contribute to climate-change mitigation can be limited by a lack of belief in the collective ability to contribute and low expectations about positive outcomes from personal contributions; people in the surveyed countries did not believe that collective actions could limit energy use and did not expect that their personal contribution would help mitigate climate change
This paper found that people’s beliefs in their personal abilities to contribute to climate-change mitigation by limiting their energy use is high, but their positive outcome expectancy for their personal contributions is low

Summary

Introduction

In the latest report on global warming, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change claimed that human-induced global warming reached approximately 1 ◦ C above the pre-industrial period levels (1850 to 1900 is used as an approximation of pre-industrial temperatures) in. Governments, recognise the urgent need to adopt policy measures for businesses and societies and to encourage individuals to become active players in reducing global warming. Individual engagement might be achieved by a deliberate motion from understanding to being concerned and to changing behaviour, which is not secured by only providing information, even if it is significant. As stated by Lorenzoni et al, “it is not enough for people to know about climate change in order to be engaged; they need to care about it, be motivated and able to take action” [3] As stated by Lorenzoni et al, “it is not enough for people to know about climate change in order to be engaged; they need to care about it, be motivated and able to take action” [3] (p. 446)

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