Why Do Longtermists Care about Protecting the Environment? An Investigation on the Underlying Mechanisms of Pro-Climate Policy Support

Kyle Fiore Law, Stylianos Syropoulos () and Liane Young
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Kyle Fiore Law: Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
Stylianos Syropoulos: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Boston, MA 02467, USA
Liane Young: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Boston, MA 02467, USA

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 24, 1-16

Abstract: Amid the pressing threat of climate collapse, longtermists emerge as a critical group poised to undertake collective action for the planet’s future. This pre-registered, highly powered study ( N = 784 U.S. subjects recruited through Prolific) reinforces the association between longtermism and pro-climate attitudes, revealing that longtermists markedly support diverse pro-environmental policies, including those focusing on climate justice for minoritized groups in present-day and future generations. Notably, these associations are consistent after controlling for various demographic indicators, emphasizing their widespread relevance in the US context. Going beyond existing literature, this research delves into the underpinnings of longtermists’ pro-environmental proclivities. Critically, while longtermists exhibit heightened future-oriented concern for themselves and others, it is their capacity to imagine a brighter, more sustainable future and their broadened prosocial reach that elevates their environmental concern above and beyond the influence of demographic differences or other mediating factors. These insights present a promising foundation for cultivating broader pro-environmental engagement, highlighting the role of imagination and prosociality in shaping sustainable action.

Keywords: climate change; longtermism; climate justice; public policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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