Abstract
Understanding the factors associated with acceptance of climate action is central in designing effective climate change communication strategies.An exploratory factor analysis of 12 science-consistent beliefs about the existence, causes, and consequences of climate change reveals three underlying factors: climate change (a) is real and human caused, (b) has increased the frequency of extreme weather events, and (c) negatively affects public health. In the presence of demographic, ideological, and party controls, this health factor significantly predicts a 3–6 percentage point increase in respondents’ (a) willingness to advocate for climate change; (b) reported personal pro-climate behaviors; and (c) support for government policies addressing climate change. These results are robust when controlling for respondents’ underlying belief in the existence and causes of climate change, respondent worry, self-efficacy, and respondent belief that extreme weather events and heat waves are increasing. These findings suggest ways to bolster public support for climate policies that may otherwise be at risk.
