Climate concern and policy acceptance before and after COVID-19.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Climate Change Communication
• Public Health Crises

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on public engagement with the climate crisis remains unclear.
• The finite-pool-of-worry hypothesis posits that pandemic concerns may reduce climate change worry and policy acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced public concern and policy acceptance regarding climate change.
• To test the finite-pool-of-worry hypothesis and explore related pandemic-specific factors.

Main Methods:

• Survey data from 1172 Spanish participants collected before and after the first COVID-19 wave.
• Aggregate and within-person analyses to examine changes in climate concern and policy acceptance.
• Exploration of individual-level health/economic experiences and beliefs linking climate change to COVID-19.

Main Results:

• Average climate concern decreased, while acceptance of most climate policies increased.
• Individual health experiences did not correlate with these changes; unemployment was linked to reduced policy acceptance.
• Belief in climate change's role in COVID-19 and positive government pandemic response correlated with higher climate concern and policy acceptance.

Conclusions:

• Despite decreased climate concern, climate policy acceptance has risen, challenging the finite-pool-of-worry hypothesis.
• Public support for climate action remains robust, even during a global health crisis.
• Linking climate action to pandemic recovery, such as through carbon tax revenues, garners public favor.