A recent global survey indicates that individuals from the Global South are generally more hopeful about climate change than those in European nations. While fear and worry were notably high in Brazil, European countries reported lower levels of hope despite less direct experience with climate impacts. The study highlights the importance of engaging diverse perspectives in climate interventions.
A global study, published in the journal Risk Analysis, surveyed over 30,000 individuals across 30 countries to assess feelings about climate change and its associated interventions. Conducted by researchers from Aarhus University and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, the online survey gathered responses in 19 languages from August to December 2022.
The research mapped five core “climate emotions”—fear, hope, anger, sadness, and worry—across the surveyed nations. It revealed significant differences in these sentiments. Among the 12 countries exhibiting the highest hope regarding climate change, 11 were developing or emerging economies in the Global South, with only the United States representing the Global North.
Conversely, several European nations, including Germany, Austria, and Sweden, demonstrated low levels of hope despite experiencing fewer natural disasters and lesser expectations of direct climate harm. Participants in southern European countries, specifically Spain, Italy, and Greece, predominantly displayed anger and sadness.
Brazilian participants indicated the highest levels of fear and worry concerning climate change. The study also sought to illuminate the relationship between these emotions and public support for climate intervention technologies like solar radiation modification (SRM) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Chad M. Baum, the lead author, emphasized the increased focus on such interventions due to rising climate disasters and inadequate emissions reductions.
The findings highlighted how hope, particularly strong among respondents in the Global South, significantly predicted support for climate interventions, especially SRM and cutting-edge CDR methods such as direct air capture. Although fear was also linked to support for these technologies, its impact was less significant than hope and worry. Baum pointed out that the study underscores the importance of recognizing diverse perspectives on climate change and the necessity for inclusive dialogues regarding potential solutions in the Global South.
The study illustrates that perceptions and emotions regarding climate change vary markedly across different regions. The Global South displays higher degrees of hope and corresponding support for climate interventions, contrasting with lower levels of optimism in many European countries. Understanding these emotional landscapes is crucial for developing effective climate strategies that engage diverse viewpoints, particularly from those in developing economies.
Original Source: www.technologynetworks.com
