From Perceiving the Risk of Climate Change to Pro-Environmental Behavior

In the first study we examined whether knowledge, social norms, value orientations and emotional affect about climate change (climate change) predict climate change risk perception among Transylvanian students. In the second study we examined whether climate change risk perception, psychological adaptation, mitigation beliefs and behavioral intention predict, both directly and indirectly, pro-environmental behavior (PEB). We also examined whether knowledge, deep engagement and affective involvement influence PEB. In the first study N = 84 (age M = 19.43, SD = 1.03), while in the second study N = 72 (M = 19.79, SD = 1.47), and N = 31 (M = 19.61, SD = 1.17) individuals participated. The participants filled the scales online. Internal consistency of the scales was found to be good. During the intervention the research group received brief synopses on climate change in writing, through e-mail, for five days. The results show that biosphere values and demographics significantly predict climate change risk perception. The intervention significantly increased PEB in the research group and this effect persisted for over a month.