Climate Change Awareness: Empirical Evidence for the European Union

Abstract

In this paper we assess public attitudes on climate change in Europe over the last decade. Using aggregate figures from the Special Eurobarometer surveys on Climate Change, we find that climate change attitudes have evolved according to the "S-shaped" information dissemination model, conditional to various socioeconomic and climatological factors. In particular, we find that environmental awareness is directly related to per capita income, social trust, secondary education, the physical distress associated with hot weather and loss caused by extreme weather episodes. It is also inversely related to greenhouse gas emissions and tertiary education. Moreover, consistent with our epidemics-like narrative, we find a negative impact for Donald Trump's denial campaigns and a larger positive effect for Greta Thunberg's environmental activism. In terms of policy implications, this paper calls on the EU to take up leadership in the fight against climate change and declare a climate emergency. It also calls on teachers to introduce their students to climate change, science journals to allow wide access to any climate change article they publish and public institutions to protect climate change evidence from politicization. This paper finally calls for the close coordination of monetary and fiscal policies, to allow the green bonds market to reach rapidly the size required for the implementation of effective climate change mitigation policies.

Pro-environmental diversification of pasture-based dairy and beef production in Ireland, the United Kingdom and New Zealand: a scoping review of impacts and challenges

“…According to the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, 1 million plant and animal species are currently threatened with extinction (Jaspers, 2020). Moreover, GHG emissions are still increasing globally, with the projection that the carbon budget set to meet the Paris Agreement target of 2°C will be exhausted before 2050 (Baiardi and Morana, 2021). Consumer awareness of climate and biodiversity crisis continues to increase, leading to change in dietary habits and many questioning the sustainability of Western diets (Clonan et al ., 2015).…”

“…Consumer awareness of climate and biodiversity crisis continues to increase, leading to change in dietary habits and many questioning the sustainability of Western diets (Clonan et al ., 2015). In high-income societies, it is well-recognized that climate change and biodiversity loss are twin disasters and need to be addressed urgently (Baiardi and Morana, 2021).…”

The Changes in Climate Change Concern, Responsibility Assumption and Impact on Climate-friendly Behaviour in EU from the Paris Agreement Until 2019

“…These results reveal that all EU countries have become more aware of the climate change problem. Baiardi and Morana (2021) also indicated that climate change concern in Europe has increased over the last decade and significant effect are found for education, media coverage, social trust and relative power position of right-wing parties in government. Some authors (Nisbet and Myers 2007;Boykoff and Yulsman 2013) emphasises that public concern about climate change has risen recently due to growing scientific evidence and higher mass media coverage and political debate.…”

Differentiating emotions in the theory of planned behaviour: evidence of improved prediction in relation to sustainable food consumerism

“…The need for sustainability-oriented consumerism has been highlighted by the United Nations 2030 Agenda (Gillani and Kutaula, 2018) and awareness of this issue is increasing (Baiardi and Morana, 2020; Eurobarometer, 2021). However, this awareness is not always decisive for the adoption of sustainable food consumption.…”