The climate change risk perception model in the United States: A replication study

Abstract

This replication study applies the four-factor Climate Change Risk Perception Model (CCRPM) proposed by van der Linden (2015) to a representative sample of United States adults. Previous applications of the model in predicting climate change risk perceptions have explained more than 50% of the variance in a United Kingdom and Australian sample. Results provide support for the CCRPM as a predictive model in the US with 62% of the variance in climate change risk perceptions explained. The socio-cultural factor which includes prescriptive and descriptive norms is the single largest predictor of climate change risk perceptions, which may reflect the extreme politicization of climate change in the United States. In contrast with prior CCRPM research is the low amount of variance explained by affective responses to climate change. Recommendations for future use of the CCRPM are included and implications for communicators are considered.