Public Resource
Emotional signatures of climate policy support
Teresa Myers, Connie Roser-Renouf, Anthony Leiserowitz et al. PLOS Climate
Different emotions about climate change are more closely linked with support for different types of policies to address it. Fear is associated most with regulatory action like stronger emissions standards, while hope is associated most with proactive climate policies like investing in clean energy. Certain emotions are more strongly linked with support for different types of policies: guilt and anger were most strongly associated with “personally costly” policy support (e.g., paying more in taxes or fees to fund pro-climate initiatives); hope and sadness were most strongly associated with “proactive” policy support (e.g., increasing government investment in renewables); and fear was most strongly associated with regulatory policy support (e.g., establishing stronger standards for emissions and fuel efficiency).