Work

Concern about climate change in two protected natural areas of Spain: psychological barriers / La preocupación por el cambio climático en dos espacios naturales protegidos de España: barreras psicológicas

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Climate change (CC) has been listed as the greatest risk to humanity, and the most appropriate strategies to address the situation depend largely on how the problem is perceived. The purpose of this study is to analyse social perceptions of CC in two natural areas of Spain (Garajonay and Sierra Espuña). Participants ( N = 334) showed high levels of concern and low levels of scepticism about CC. A factorial model was developed to explain the relationships between variables that affect concern about CC: scepticism, technological optimism, negative self-efficacy, political ideology and perceived signs of CC. The SEM model ( R 2 = .65; χ 2 ( df) = 223.65 (131); CFI = .968; RMSEA = .057) shows the strategic importance of considering the variables included (such as CC scepticism and technological optimism) so as to better understand the complex phenomenon of concern about CC.

Source: PsyEcology Bilingual Journal of Environmental Psychology

DOI: 10.1177/21711976241280551

Authors: José Antonio Corraliza, Adrián Moll, Silvia Collado, Verónica Sevillano, Marta Múgica

Institutions: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad de Zaragoza

Language: English

Topic: Climate Change Communication and Perception

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: green

Funder: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación