Our Environmental Value Orientations Influence How We Respond to Climate Change

Area of Science:

• Environmental psychology
• Climate change adaptation
• Human values research

Background:

• Global change affects beliefs, behaviors, and grief variably.
• Assumed psycho-cultural differences explain varied responses to climate change.
• The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) faces climate impacts like coral bleaching and cyclones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test assumptions about psycho-cultural orientations and climate change responses.
• To investigate the relationship between human values and climate change beliefs, behaviors, and grief.
• To inform environmental management strategies for promoting sustainability.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Environmental Schwartz Value Survey (ESVS) to define four value orientations: biospheric, altruistic, egoistic, and hedonic.
• Conducted face-to-face quantitative surveys with 1,934 GBR residents.
• Assessed environmental values, perceptions of environmental condition, perceptions of self-impact, climate change beliefs, pro-environmental behaviors, and ecological grief.

Main Results:

• Biospheric and altruistic values significantly influenced all climate change responses (beliefs, behaviors, grief).
• Egoistic values were influential only on grief responses.
• Perception of environmental change impacted beliefs and grief; perception of self-impact influenced beliefs.

Conclusions:

• Human value orientations are critical predictors of climate change responses.
• Environmental managers can leverage value orientations to enhance climate change communication and promote environmental stewardship.
• Targeted communication strategies emphasizing altruism, biospherism, and egoism can foster sustainability.