A new study co-written by a USC professor finds that indirect experience with severe weather drives public concern about climate change around the world.
What they found: People are more likely to worry about climate change if they know of someone who has been harmed by severe weather, even if they themselves have not been harmed. Concern is a precursor to action to curb and adapt to climate change. Education and being personally harmed by extreme weather also increase concern.
Who are we talking about? The study, which was published in the Journal of Risk Research, analyzed survey data collected in 121 countries for the 2021 Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll.