Climate Crisis Survey Reveals Scientists’ Willingness to Act – and Barriers to Action

Adam Aron, professor of psychology in the School of Social Sciences at the University of California San Diego, is a co-author of the study published Aug. 5 in the journal Nature Climate Change.

“Climate change is one of the biggest threats to humanity,” said Aron whose research is now focused on the social psychology of collective action on the climate and ecological crisis. “Governments, corporations and many institutions continue to make empty promises that downplay the level of transformation that’s required to prevent climate breakdown and to equitably adapt societies to deal with the impacts that are already here.”

The researchers surveyed more than 9,000 scientists from 115 countries about their views on climate change and the extent to which they are engaged in climate action. Climate change worried the majority of respondents (83%). Many more (91%) believed that fundamental changes in social, political and economic systems are needed to mitigate the effects of climate change. When asked about their own actions to combat the climate crisis, many said they have already made significant changes to their lifestyle. They were driving less (69%), flying less (51%) and switching to a more plant-based diet (39%).

Barriers to engagement and action

The researchers found that the majority of scientists who responded to the survey believed in the effectiveness of climate activist groups to bring about positive change. They were also in support of more engagement on the part of the scientific community in climate advocacy and even protest. Their own responses to the crisis included climate advocacy (29%), participation in legal protest (23%) and/or acts of civil disobedience (10%). About half said they would be willing to engage in some of these in the future.

Based on these results, the authors of the study propose a two-step model of engagement. First, in order for scientists to be willing to engage, they need to break through intellectual barriers that impede climate action such as lack of belief in the effectiveness of the actions, lack of identification with activists, lack of knowledge, fear of losing credibility, and fear of repercussions. Second, they need to overcome mostly practical barriers including perceived lack of skills, lack of time, lack of opportunities, and not knowing any groups involved in climate action.

“This study makes clear that scientists from all disciplines are very worried and are calling for fundamental transformation,” Aron said.  “I hope this helps wake people up and that they get engaged, as more and more scientists are.”

About the survey

Out of the 250,000 targeted emails sent to solicit participation in the study, the research team received more than 9,000 survey responses from scientists and academics in 115 countries in various disciplines and career stages. The researchers acknowledge that respondents who were already involved in climate change may have been more likely to self-select to participate in the survey, which could affect the extent to which the reported results reflect the views of the scientific community as a whole.

Learn more about research and education at UC San Diego in: Climate Change