Work

Techno-optimistic scientists take fewer climate actions

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Technological innovation is key to mitigating climate change, yet excessive faith in technology may undermine the wider societal transformations needed to address it. In their roles as knowledge producers and trusted public figures, scientists play an important part in shaping how societies understand and respond to climate change. We examine techno-optimism—here defined as the belief that technology will largely solve the problems caused by climate change—among scientists using survey data from N = 9199 scientists across 115 countries. Our findings show that techno-optimism is most prevalent among scientists in applied and natural sciences, and among those with right-leaning political views, but does not vary with the extent to which one’s research is related to climate change. Techno-optimistic scientists are substantially less likely to engage in civic climate action (23% lower) or make high-impact lifestyle changes (18% lower). We hope that our study can contribute to a critical discussion about how scientists’ own beliefs and worldviews shape their understanding of, and engagement in, climate action.

Source: Environmental Research Letters

DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/aea4c7

Authors: Fabian Dablander, Viktoria Cologna, Maien Sachisthal, Jonas Haslbeck

Institutions: London School of Economics and Political Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, University of Amsterdam, Utrecht University

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: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,045