Young people misjudge older generations’ concern about climate crisis, notes ESRI research

Young people underestimate how worried older people are about climate change, according to new research, which finds that a better understanding of generational differences could lead to more effective collective action in addressing the consequences of a warming world.

Irish woman says she will ‘never forget’ eyes of alleged rapist and chief suspect in Madeleine McCann caseThe authors devised an experimental test of whether thinking about the climate change conversation as an intergenerational issue affects young people’s climate motivations and their perceptions of older generations. They also tested whether cross-generational collaboration can be enhanced by highlighting similarities in concern about the environment.

A sample of 500 people aged 16 to 24 read a short text about climate change. The main information was the same for all participants, but for half the participants, selected at random, the text emphasised generational differences in the causes of climate change and exposure to its effects. The study also tested the effects of providing young people with accurate information on how worried people above 40 years are. “Among those who had underestimated older people’s worry, seeing estimates from previous research boosted their belief that others, and in particular older people, are willing to play their part to mitigate climate change,” the paper finds. Research from behavioural economics suggests such beliefs are vital in encouraging climate action.

Source: Energy Industry News (energyindustrynews.net)

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