Public Resource
Do clean energy messages produce lasting attitudinal change?
Action for the Climate Emergency
Short videos can increase support for solar and wind energy. This research found an 8% increase in persuasion via videos on social media that showed clean energy improves the local economy. Persuasion was particularly effective for self-identified moderates compared to somewhat conservative or conservative participants. Political “moderates” supported expanding clean energy by an additional 22% compared to the control group (compared to -9% to -1% effect range for very conservatives). Persuasion was also particularly effective for people who did not support expanding clean energy in the pre-survey. Support for expanding clean energy increased by 19% for those who did not support it in the pre-survey (opposed or neutral). One month later, persuasion towards clean energy persisted only among people who were neutral in the pre-survey. All other effects had decayed away, demonstrating that continued, long-term exposure to messages is needed for persuasion to persist.