Hope and Fear: Climate Change Emotions Across Global Regions

A global survey of over 30,000 individuals reveals that hope towards climate change is more pronounced in the Global South compared to Europe. Brazilian participants exhibited the highest levels of fear and worry. Notably, hope predicts support for climate intervention technologies and underscores the importance of diverse perspectives in climate discourse.

A recent global survey encompassing over 30,000 individuals across 30 countries has revealed significant insights into public perceptions regarding climate change. Conducted by researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria, the survey assesses the emotional responses and support for intervention technologies related to climate change, as published in the journal Risk Analysis.

The analysis identified five key “climate emotions”: fear, hope, anger, sadness, and worry. Notably, among the 12 nations expressing the most hope about tackling climate change, 11 were developing or emerging economies from the Global South, such as Nigeria and India, with the only exception being the United States. Conversely, European nations, including Germany and Austria, displayed the least hope despite encountering fewer natural disasters and a lower anticipated impact from climate change.

Participants from Southern European countries, specifically Spain, Italy, and Greece, expressed heightened feelings of anger and sadness. Meanwhile, Brazilian respondents demonstrated the highest levels of both fear and worry regarding climate change, highlighting the emotional intensity in different regions.

Chad M. Baum, the lead author, emphasized the investigation of how climate emotions relate to support for intervention technologies like solar radiation modification and carbon dioxide removal. He indicated that hope, particularly prevalent among respondents from the Global South, significantly predicted support for these technologies, especially SRM and direct air capture. Additionally, a correlation exists between fear and support for climate interventions, suggesting that worry influences public backing for such initiatives.

Baum further clarified that understanding these divergent emotional responses on a global scale is critical to addressing climate change effectively, particularly regarding the viewpoints and needs of the Global South. The study underscores the necessity of incorporating diverse perspectives in discussions about climate solutions to foster more comprehensive action against climate change.

The global survey highlights significant disparities in climate emotions and support for interventions between countries of the Global South and those of the Global North. The findings indicate that hope is more prevalent among respondents from developing nations and emerges as a vital factor in supporting innovative climate solutions. In contrast, European countries express less hope despite lower exposure to climate impacts. Addressing these emotional variances is essential for formulating effective climate strategies and interventions.

Original Source: www.technologynetworks.com